Guest Post by Pink Sugar Bowl: How To Preserve Fresh Berries

Hi Friends!  I have a guest post for you today from Deena of  Pink Sugar Bowl.  She has a true talent when it comes to baking and whips up the most amazing goodies like my favorite, her pumpkin whoopie pies.  They are out of this world!  She uses as many locally sourced ingredients a she can, has a heart for giving back to charities and has been a true asset to our local farmers market.  Here is a post Deena has graciously shared on how to successfully preserve fresh berries.... 

It's summertime! And that means an abundance of fresh, locally grown berries! If you have ever purchased berries only to find them covered in white fuzzy mold a few days later, here are some techniques guaranteed to work!

To prepare fresh berries, that will be eaten within a week, start by sorting through whole berries and destem (blueberries). Fill a large bowl with three cups water and one cup white vinegar. Wash berries in this solution and then drain in a colander. Rinse under running water. While berries are draining in the colander line a salad spinner with paper towels, or a flour sack towel folded over a few times to fit within the bowl. Spin gently until completely dry. Store in a towel lined (paper or cotton) container with a loose fitting lid. Why vinegar? The solution destroys bacteria and mold spores, extending the life of the berries. If you plan to eat them within a couple days this process is not necessary.

When freezing berries I do the same process then place in a plastic bag, remove the air and freeze flat on a baking sheet. Once thoroughly frozen they can be removed and stacked atop one another on a freezer shelf. If not thoroughly dried ice crystals will form on the berries, so for those of you not comfortable with that method here are two other proven ways to freeze fresh berries.

First you need to prep the fruit you are freezing, wash and dry as instructed above. Strawberries need hulled and cut in half other berries picked over, stems removed. Once dried you can pack them one of two ways, a syrup pack or a sugar pack. It's been found that a syrup pack preserves the vibrant colors of raspberries and strawberries, but I have found plain freezing as I typically do retains color, maybe not as vibrant but I like not having the added sugar. 

Sugar Pack - toss two cups of fruit with 1 1/4 cups sugar (all berries; except blueberries they only need about 1/3 cup sugar). Spoon two cups into a quart sized bag, remove as much air as possible, and seal. Lay flat to freeze until solid (about 24 hours).

Syrup Pack - Heat three cups of sugar and four cups of water in a saucepan over medium high heat, stirring frequently, until sugar has dissolved. Cool to room temp. Place two cups berries into a quart size bag and add two cups syrup (or enough to just cover the fruit). Seal and lay flat to freeze. 

Here are some great resources for nutritional information, recipes and farms local to Middle TN.

Franklin Farmer's Market - Visit Kelley's Berry Farm, Delvin Farms and Blue Honey Farms for some of the best local berries around!

Spring Hill Farmer's Market - We will be setting up each week next to the Tennessee Children's Home Garden and Ferguson Hall. With Live music, family fun, and good home grown food to eat, this is sure to be a community event that you won't want to miss. Every Saturday, May thru October 3:30 until 6:00 pm. Please use Ferguson Drive and park behind the Ferguson Hall. This is a non-profit event to support the children's home and their service 

Thompsons Station Farmer's Market - 4691 Columbia Pike, Thompson's Station, TN every Wednesday 2:00 - 6:00 pm
Pantall Fruit Farm - Pick your own!
2781 Carter's Creek Station Rd., Columbia, TN 38401 
Phone 931-486-2754 
Hours Mon - Sat: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Dr. Josh AxAlmond Blueberry Cereal - this stuff is AMAZING! And faster to make than pouring a bowl of boxed cereal! Use whatever berries you have on hand or in season! 
Dr. Josh Axe Berrie Smoothie - kids love this!

*For all of you local readers out there Deena is having a great giveaway right now for a jar of her homemade organic strawberry jam (made with local Kelly's Farm strawberries and organic sucanat).  To enter follow her blog and leave a comment that you did so and/or share the blog post on your Facebook page, blog, twitter, etc. leaving a comment for each one.  Winner will be announced on Monday June 6th and must be able to pick up the prize within a week.