By Molly Shaw and John Dudak

In midsummer, blueberries are ripe on bushes all across Tioga County, where we have twice as many blueberry farms as any of the neighboring New York counties. So no corner of our county is too far from a place where friends and family can gather for an enjoyable outing of blueberry picking.

The nutritious blue morsels require little bending or stooping to pick, freeze easily, are great in muffins, cobblers, jams, jellies, pancakes and pies (or just gobbled raw), and can be found on a farm that’s distinct in character.

At TLC Blueberry Farm, which is a mile west of Smithboro at 2053 Rt. 17C (607-565-2315), you’ll find the berries on a rustic hillside that overlooks the Susquehanna River valley.  And you can even get a ride up the hill if you don’t want to walk.  TLC, by the way, stands for “Tender Loving Care.”

At Gary’s Berries, which is about 6 miles east of Owego at 5603 Rt. 17C in Campville (607-748-0286), you’ll find the berries on bushes surrounded by carefully manicured lawns. This blueberry patch is so popular that the “Closed for Ripening” sign is often up on Mondays after a busy picking weekend.

At Our Green Acres farm, which is just west of Owego on Rt. 17C at 3965 Waverly Road (607-687-2874), you’ll find the berries in a broad valley after traveling down a rocky road whose sign states, “Toll Road, FREE for customers of Our Green Acres.” The squawking birds you’ll hear come from a recording played to keep the starlings and robins from the berries.

At Locust Woods Farm, which is at 420 Dawson Hill Road, Spencer (607-589-4502), you’ll find the berries in tunnel-like rows of bushes on a hilltop that provides a scenic view of the surrounding area. The free-range chickens you’ll see on the lawn love the blueberries, and you can buy their fresh eggs at the stand.

At Mill’s Berry and Sheep Farm, which is off West Creek Road at 424 Upper Fairfield Road, Newark Valley (607-659-5904), you’ll find the berries in a beautiful creek valley surrounded by sheep pastures and a goose pond, where the feathery residents keep tabs on the comings and goings of pickers.

And at Traues Blueberries, which is off Sibley Road at 2498 Upper Briggs Hollow Road, Owego (607-699-7246), you’ll find the berries adorning huge ancient bushes unlike any other in the county.

The individual character of each blueberry farm also comes from the different farmers, who are often on hand to chat as you depart the patch with buckets brimming. They’re all friendly personalities who love their land and enjoy their customers.

But don’t wait too long to go.  The blueberries won’t be around much beyond the middle of August.