“Pick Your Own” Berries

After my successful stone-fruit picking trip to Bilpin last week, I decided to head to the Southern Highlands to try my hand at berry picking. I’d once visited Cuttaway Raspberry Farm just north of Berrima, and had heard about Montrose Berry Farm at Sutton Forest.  When I emailed to find out if they were open, I received this message: “We should have blueberries and blackberries on Thursday. Please be aware however, that we cannot guarantee berries as it very much depends on the weather for ripening and how many pickers we have had in before you. We look forward to welcoming you to Montrose. Kind regards Fiona.” Sounded promising. What’s more, the weather forecast was also promising – the Southern Highlands has been rainy, wet and cold over the past couple of months which has not been good for  much of the fruit. At Montrose, large white nets are stretched over the ripening berries to protect them from birds and other predators.  Fortunately the blackberries were in excellent condition, as were the blueberries (though reaching the end of their season). Owner Bruce Robertson and his wife Fiona bought the property 19 months ago and have since planted 20,000 berries, some of which ripen through to March. “We’ve done a lot of work as it was very run down,” he said. “Quite a few of the blueberry bushes were almost dead. “Fiona is a chef and we make all the vinegars, pickles, jams and berry pies (double crust shortcrust filled with fresh berries) in a commercial kitchen on site. We plan to open a café in the middle of the year. “People drive from Sydney just for the berry pies.” According to Bruce, the best berry is the boysenberry (a cross between a raspberry and blackberry) and the loganberry. The day I visited, the Kerridge family from Mt Kembla were busy picking blackberries up on the hill under a large net.  The children – Sydney and Silas – had filled their containers to the top and were excitedly discussing what they’d make when they got home – berry ice cream? berry pannacotta? berry smoothie?  See my recipe for Fruits of the Forest Crumble Cake. If you’re in the Southern Highlands, you might like to do a Mushroom Tunnel Tour on Sunday 23 January, just outside Bowral, or visit Joadja, one of the prettiest vineyards in the Southern Highlands which will be mounting the first in a series of events on Sunday 23 January – a smorgasbord of music, wine and food. Located on the outskirts of the early 19^th century Georgian village of Berrima, Joadja is the oldest and one of the few vineyards in the Highlands to use Estate-grown grapes to produce their own wines on site – varieties available from the Cellar Door include Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay – lovely aromatic whites –  and robust reds such as Cabernet/Merlot, a Reserve Malbec, Pinot Noir and soon a Sangiovese, now under trial Note: The Southern Highlands Harvest Group was being launched at Montrose Berry Farm, its focus being “pick your own” produce and harvest – contact Jill Dyson/Slow Food for more info on 4872 4884.