June 7, 2021
Two ‘Blackberry Days’ set in June to celebrate Arkansas-grown berries
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts:
- June 19, 26 dates to celebrate blackberries
- Celebration being marked at farmers markets, U-picks
(225 words)
(Newsrooms — With images here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmVTY73c )
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas farmers markets and pick-your-own farms will be joining in
the blackberry month celebration with blackberry days on two consecutive Saturdays
this month.
“Growers at seven locations in Pulaski, Washington, White, Benton and Lonoke counties will be helping to celebrate blackberries on June 19 and 26,” said Amanda McWhirt, extension specialist-horticulture crops specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
“Consumer interest in blackberries has grown significantly in the last few years and we want to help promote blackberries as an in-season, fresh, local and healthy fruit that’s available in around the state,” she said.
Customers will see “I love AR blackberry” stickers, brochures with information about blackberries in Arkansas, as well as recipes to enjoy the fruit in multiple ways. Blackberry days are being held in collaboration with the Arkansas Agriculture Department and its Arkansas Grown program and the Arkansas Blackberry Growers Association.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson has declared June to be blackberry month.
Locations taking part in the celebration
CABOT
- Barnhill Orchards drive-through market
BENTONVILLE
- Bentonville Farmers Market
FAYETTEVILLE
- Fayetteville Farmers Market
- Sta-N-Step Farm, pick-your-own farm
LITTLE ROCK
- Hillcrest Farmers Market
NORTH LITTLE ROCK
- Me and McGee Market
SEARCY
- Searcy Farmers Market
The Experience Arkansas Agriculture site has a list of farmers markets at https://www.uaex.uada.edu/farm-ranch/economics-marketing/experience-arkansas-agriculture/.
Arkansas has a big connection to blackberries through the Division of Agriculture breeding program. Blackberries from that Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station project are grown on every continent except Antarctica.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uark.edu. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/
Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk, @uaex_edu or @ArkAgResearch.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact:
Mary Hightower
mhightower@uada.edu
501-671-2006