Temecula may be most famous for being a popular Southern California wine region, but the valley supports a significant amount of other agriculture as well. A simple drive through the north side of wine country and you’ll spot row upon row of citrus trees. Look further, and you’ll spot olive tree groves, lavender farms, and even a pumpkin farm. And right in the center of the valley is a picturesque, 10-acre blueberry farm that is open to the public when the berries are ripe for picking, usually May through the beginning of July, or as long as there are still berries.
Temecula Berry Co. is a family-run blueberry farm that has been operating since the early 2000s. Father and son team, Ray and Mike Graesser, grow Southern Highbush blueberries — Emerald and Jewel varieties — plus a small plot of boysenberries that have been bred from the original Knott’s Berry Farm rootstock. Their farm is a bright and cheerful spot, perfect for family photo ops, with a small red barn right at the center where Ray and his wife, affectionately dubbed “Nana Blueberry,” reside. Out front, guests purchase picking containers (required for entry onto the farm) and shop farm-made goodies like blueberry and boysenberry jams, honey, and blueberry-scented candles and lip balm. On weekends, Mike’s son, Grayson, sells berry-flavored snow cones to grateful pickers.
New to blueberry picking? The staff is happy to demonstrate their preferred technique. On the day I was there, Kathy, who has been with the farm for 14 seasons, showed us her method of gently teasing or rolling the blueberries off their stems with your fingers so they simply tumble into your cupped hands. One of the best tips that I learned on my visit is that the further you walk into the fields, the more berries you will find, so be sure to bring a pair of comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting a little dirty. And a hat. Blueberry plants like sun, so there’s not much shade on the farm. Kathy places a pink flag out in the rows of blueberry bushes to indicate where there are large clusters. More tips for your visit can be found on their website.
For the little ones, there are newer plants that are low to the ground and easy to pick from. There are also a few farm animals…chickens, goats that they, or you, can visit and feed for a small extra fee.
Movie Nights
This summer, Temecula Berry Co is holding two movie nights. On June 12 they’re showing Zootopia and another on June 19, Soul Surfer. On movie nights, there is also early evening berry picking available from 4 to 7:30, food trucks starting at 5 pm, and the movie at 8 pm.
Things to Know
The farm is open weekends 7 am to 4 pm, and usually on Mondays 8 am to 12 pm. Check their website for the latest hours before you go.
Reservations are not necessary unless you’re bringing a large group (like the size that would require a bus). Educational agricultural tours are also available for groups by appointment.
Blueberries will keep in the refrigerator (unwashed) for 7 to 10 days. After that, the farm recommends freezing them. Blueberries should only be washed just before eating.
There is no admission charge, but each customer 5 years and older is required to purchase a container for entry into the farm. Credit cards are not accepted. Payment is by cash or check only. At the time of writing, prices were:
- Small container – $6
- Medium container – $12
- Large container – $20
