Clouds moved in early and Saturday night did not get nearly as cold as forecast. Most of the red raspberries survived. Although quantity is much smaller, we do plan to be open for raspberry picking this week, and have some raspberries for market.

With freezing weather this weekend, this will probably be the end of the red raspberries for the season. We will have good quantities at the Princeton and Peoria farmers’ markets. We also will bring lots of pumpkins, acorn and butternut squash, as well as chestnuts and black walnuts and our own whole wheat flour. We also will have some grapes and watermelon. In Princeton we will also have Plow Creek Bakery goods. We don’t know if there will be raspberries to pick on Saturday; it depends on how cold it gets.

Red Raspberry U-Pick will be open this week on Monday from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and Wednesday and Friday from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. The picking will be at the raspberry patch between the strawberry fields, just south of the white market barn. It will be self-serve and instructions will be provided on how to pick and pay for your berries at the raspberry patch. Since production is still ramping up and there are currently a limited amount of ripe berries, we ask that customers limit their picking to no more than 4 pints this week.

We had a great blueberry season, but they are almost all picked. U-Pick is now closed for the season, although we may be bringing a few to market the next few times. Thank you to all our loyal customers. We expect to be open for red raspberry u-pick in about 2 weeks.

Today, in Princeton, I will bring the first cantaloupe of the season to market. I will also have blueberries, raspberries, fresh garlic, new potatoes, kohlrabi, broccoli, zucchini, cucumbers, green beans, cabbage, snow peas, dill, Plow Creek Bakery goods, and the first few little tomatoes of the season

We expect to take our first few red raspberries of the season to Princeton Farmers’ Market on Tuesday. There may sometimes be a few available for blueberry u-pickers, but don’t make a trip counting on it for a while.

This Saturday in Princeton will be our last market for the year, although a few venders plan on coming next week. We have a few red raspberries left, plus chestnuts, lots of green peppers, potatoes, salad greens, squash and pumpkins. And of course, our Plow Creek Bakery goodies. Remember, you can order Bakery goods when we are not at market by emailing bakery@plowcreek.org.

Red raspberries have finally arrived in good quantity. You may pick them up Blueberry Hill and by the yellow Raspberry Shed by our Market Barn. Yesterday we picked over 600 watermelon: traditional red with seeds, red seedless, and small sweet yellow watermelons. Great for your Labor Day picnic. Both watermelon and raspberries will be available in good quantity at the Princeton and Peoria Farmers’ markets.

Saturday morning, raspberries will be plentiful at the Princeton Farmer’s Market, Peoria Riverfront Market and Sterling Market. At Princeton and Peoria, you can also find a good supply of watermelon, green beans and eggplant. Tomatoes and herbs will be available to the early shoppers.

We picked the red raspberries fairly thoroughly for market on Friday, and they are ripening slower in this cloudy weather, so there will not be lots of berries to pick on Saturday. You may find several pints, but not large quantities for jam or freezing. Plenty should ripen by Monday.

Fall Red Raspberry season is underway, and you can find a good supply at Valley Flowers in Spring Valley Thursday from 8AM to 2PM. Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, Muskmelon, Bread, Cookies and Watermelon (5 varieties) will also be on display.

Back at the farm, Raspberry U-Pick will be open Thursday from 8AM to 8PM.