How To Buy Fresh Blackberries
1. If you have a choice, it’s best to pick blackberries from the field. They have two seasons – early summer (June) and late summer (August)
2. Blackberries are one of the most expensive fruits due to their fragility. They are difficult to transport and only have a refrigerated shelf life of 2 days. Only buy blackberries if you plan to eat them right away.
3. Blackberries won’t ripen once they have been picked. The should have a uniform color with no light splotches. This is true whether you get them from the field or a grocery store.
4. Blackberries should have a strong berry scent. This is true of grocery store blackberries as well. If you can’t smell the berries, pass on them.
5. Inspect the packaging before buying any blackberries for mold or stains, especially on the bottom of the package. Mold shows that the blackberries have already started to go bad and stains indicate that the blackberries are overripe.
6. Avoid blackberries if they still have their stem attached. This indicates that the berry was picked too soon and won’t be sweet or flavorful.
7. Don’t wash blackberries (both from the grocery store and from the field) until you are ready to eat them. Washing sooner is a recipe for mold.
