After the blueberry packing plant, we went to visit Doc Application Farm. Our tour guide was Liz, she and her husband own Doc Application. Liz’s husband Dave has been propagating blueberries for almost twenty years. He developed his own blueberry, Winter Bell, which is sold throughout the state of Florida to commercial farmers.
The field was being picked the day we visited. We watched the workers come in and have their buckets weighed and tickets punched. It was interesting to see how fast they could pick berries. I don’t think I am a very efficient picker!
This farm grows berries for commercial sale and it also has an experimental area to test new varieties of blueberries. We were able to pick a few different kinds of berries from those trees. It was evident in telling the different kinds of berries. The outer skins were each different, some tasted sweet and some were sour. Test bushes usually take up to ten years before a decision is made to produce them.
In the video, Liz shows you how they cross breed blueberries. Two different types are used. The plant from one and the pollen from another. The greenhouse we were in is completely covered in plastic. They do not want any chances of cross-pollination from any insect or weather condition. They control everything on the inside to protect the scientific process. Just so you know, it was about 120 degrees in there filming that process. I thought I might pass out!
The second process in the breeding program is letting the plants grow. Liz explains how they transplant the bushes and how they watch and record everything about them for several years.
This learning experience was incredible for us all. The breeding program would be a great topic of study for middle and high school students. The study we have done with blueberries has taken us to many places. Everything we have done is wonderful for all ages and stages of any family.
Liz shares her philosophy on different careers in the last section of the video. Her thoughts got me to see and appreciate so much more. It was awesome to have my high schooler there soaking up words of wisdom from the seasoned mom.
We hope you have enjoyed this lesson module on blueberry farms from beginning to end.