We have arrived at one of Bladen County’s most important seasons.
Blueberries!
We’re certainly disheartened for our neighbors in Pender County, having canceled the 2020 North Carolina Blueberry Festival due to the coronavirus. The delicious eats, however, will still be with us.
The state Agriculture Department reminded us last week that we’re at the outset of the season, moving into the prime time for a favorite tasty treat. The season stretches into July. In our neck of the woods, it doesn’t get much better than a spring with strawberries coming to us in April and May, and the blueberries following right behind.
The tomatoes and corn, we know, will be here soon as the weather warms and the calendar turns.
The virus has certainly changed our world, but let’s set a few facts straight when it comes to the things we love from the gardens and fields. We share this information from N.C. State University, and the cooperative extension agency.
• The CDC and USDA have no reports of human illnesses suggesting COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging. Certainly, good hygiene practices should be followed when handling or preparing foods.
• Coronaviruses need a living host, be it animal or human, to grow in and cannot grow in food.
• Handling food during the pandemic requires safety practices that are always recommended. This includes purchasing from reputable sources, and we always suggest shopping local. Cook thoroughly and maintain safe holding temperatures, use good personal hygiene, and clean and sanitize surfaces and equipment.
The virus is most likely to cause illness through respiratory transmission, not eating. The routes to be concerned about are being in close proximity to many people, or coming in contact with high touch surfaces.
When we visit the many “u-pick” farms, here’s a little of what our friends at N.C. State have suggested for them and we should experience.
Employees should use gloves handling money or credit cards, with hand sanitizer readily available and frequently used. There shouldn’t be a large event or gathering. Masks help prevent the spread of the virus from sick people, but are not required.
On our part, don’t go if experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, or if having been in contact with someone who has it. The farm will rightly ask you to leave. Farms are expected to require employees to stay home if exhibiting symptoms, or if they have been exposed.
We love blueberries, and share the great pride of being the No. 1 producing county in a state that usually ranks between sixth and eighth in the country in production.
The time to head out to the blueberry farms is arriving. Watch for their signs, do your part to keep the visit safe, and enjoy the spoils of North Carolina agriculture.
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