Blackberries The blackberry fruit is particularly abundant in eastern North America and on the Pacific coast; in the British Isles and Western Europe. The bush is characterized by its usually prickly, erect, or trailing stems. The leaves usually have three or five oval coarsely toothed, stalked leaflets, many of which persist through the winter. Blackberries typically peak during June in the South, and in July in the North. Crops are ready at various times of the month depending on which part of the state you are located. In order to produce good local blackberries, producers depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions.

Storage
» Blackberries should be stored in the refrigerator.
» Do not stack product on top of the cases or cause the blackberries to be crushed.
» Remove any blackberries with decay, damage or that begin to mold immediately.

Handling
» Follow good rotation practices, first shipments received should be used first.
» Fresh blackberries have an expected shelf life of about 3 days. Plan to rotate frequently to maintain maximum quality.
» Avoid placing blackberries on non-sanitized kitchen counter tops to help prevent the potential for cross contamination.

Preparation
» Prep fresh daily as needed. Wash only immediately before use
» Always limit the time that the product is out of refrigeration.