PARRISH — When you think of places where blueberries grow, you normally think of cold-weather locales such as Michigan and Maine.
But in the past decade, the University of Florida has worked on new varieties of blueberries with names like Jewel, Emerald and Star that can thrive in southern towns like Parrish, Arcadia and Wauchula.
A Parrish farmer who has taken advantage of the new science is Mitchell John, who has dedicated five acres of the 110-acre family farm off Highway 62 to blueberries. The other 105 acres are still for cross-breed beef cattle.
John’s blueberry farm is the second stop on this year’s Farm Tour, which departs in two buses from the Manatee County Fairgrounds in Palmetto at 8 a.m. Friday and returns at 4 p.m.
The Farm Tour is always a highlight of Farm City Week events, which kicked off Monday with a Manatee River Soil contest.
Friday’s Farm Tour costs $40 a person.
The tour begins this year at Gamble Creek Farm, moves on to John’s farm, which has been in the family since 1918, then pulls in for lunch at Dry Prairie Baptist Church. The tour resumes after lunch at H&H Nursery, Rosa Fiorelli Grape Orchard and Winery, and Mixon Fruit Farm.
In 2005, John invested $50,000 to plant Jewels and Emeralds. It took three years to see a profit. This year, he will finally get a significant payback on his investment as long as a winter chill doesn’t freeze them out before April, when they are harvested.
“Last year would have been better, but I lost 3,000 pounds in February to a freeze,” John said.
John sells his crop to Westlake, a Tampa produce company.
“I don’t think it will be a big Manatee County crop, but there will always be a few of us messing with it,” John said.
“We wanted to show people that Florida can support blueberries,” said Farm Tour guide Betty Glassburn.
There are still seats left on the tour buses. Those interested should call Linda Means or Crystal Snodgrass at (941) 722-4524.
Richard Dymond, Herald reporter, can be reached at 748-0411, ext. 6686.
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