Pick up know-how for tackling diseases, pests and weeds.
Farm bill, farm marketing, agribusiness webinars, & farm policy.
Find tactics for healthy livestock and sound forages.
Scheduling and methods of irrigation.
Explore our Extension locations around the state.
Commercial row crop production in Arkansas.
Agriculture weed management resources.
Use virtual and real tools to improve critical calculations for farms and ranches.
Learn to ID forages and more.
Explore our research locations around the state.
Get the latest research results from our county agents.
Our programs include aquaculture, diagnostics, and energy conservation.
Keep our food, fiber and fuel supplies safe from disaster.
Private, Commercial & Non-commercial training and education.
Specialty crops including turfgrass, vegetables, fruits, and ornamentals.
Find educational resources and get youth engaged in agriculture.
Gaining garden smarts and sharing skills.
Creating beauty in and around the home.
Maintenance calendar, and best practices.
Coaxing the best produce from asparagus to zucchini.
What’s wrong with my plants? The clinic can help.
Featured trees, vines, shrubs and flowers.
Ask our experts plant, animal, or insect questions.
Enjoying the sweet fruits of your labor.
Herbs, native plants, & reference desk QA.
Growing together from youth to maturity.
Crapemyrtles, hydrangeas, hort glossary, and weed ID databases.
Get beekeeping, honey production, and class information.
Grow a pollinator-friendly garden.
Schedule these timely events on your gardening calendar.
Equipping individuals to lead organizations, communities, and regions.
Guiding communities and regions toward vibrant and sustainable futures.
Guiding entrepreneurs from concept to profit.
Position your business to compete for government contracts.
Find trends, opportunities and impacts.
Providing unbiased information to enable educated votes on critical issues.
Increase your knowledge of public issues & get involved.
Research-based connection to government and policy issues.
Support Arkansas local food initiatives.
Read about our efforts.
Preparing for and recovering from disasters.
Licensing for forestry and wildlife professionals.
Preserving water quality and quantity.
Cleaner air for healthier living.
Firewood & bioenergy resources.
Managing a complex forest ecosystem.
Read about nature across Arkansas and the U.S.
Learn to manage wildlife on your land.
Soil quality and its use here in Arkansas.
Learn to ID unwanted plant and animal visitors.
Timely updates from our specialists.
Eating right and staying healthy.
Ensuring safe meals.
Take charge of your well-being.
Cooking with Arkansas foods.
Making the most of your money.
Making sound choices for families and ourselves.
Nurturing our future.
Get tips for food, fitness, finance, and more!
Understanding aging and its effects.
Giving back to the community.
Managing safely when disaster strikes.
Listen to our latest episode!
TEXARKANA, Ark. –
Did you spend an early summer morning picking blackberries right off the vine on the side of the road or at a u-pick farm, or buy the gems at a nearby farmers market or roadside stand? No matter where you chose to harvest them, these berries will provide you with a taste of summer while providing valuable nutrition as well.
Blackberries are a rich source of vitamin C, containing twice as much as blueberries. Vitamin C is vital for our immune system and for cardiovascular health. It is useful in the prevention and treatment of heart and circulatory problems, and protects against cancers, degenerative diseases and infection. It also helps to improve the absorption of iron from other foods eaten at the same time, so is associated with reducing the risk of anemia. Blackberries are also a good source of vitamin A, which helps maintain eye health.
Potassium, vitamin K, magnesium and fiber are also provided by blackberries. Potassium helps maintain healthy blood pressure while vitamin K and magnesium help build and maintain strong bones.
Blackberries are very high in fiber compared with most other fruits. Fiber is important for the gut to function well, makes the digestion of certain foods easier, and helps to maintain a healthy weight. A high fiber diet also reduces the risk of developing fatal diseases like heart disease and type-2 diabetes.
Needing antioxidants and other phytochemicals that may help prevent cancer and heart disease? Yes, blackberries contain those too.
When choosing blackberries for optimal quality and nutrition, select those that are dry, firm, uniformly black, and well-shaped. If you are buying them already picked and you notice stains in paperboard containers, avoid those since this is evidence of crushed berries. Arkansas blackberries are available from late May through July. Since blackberries turn black before they are fully ripe, take care to choose only firm, fully ripe fruit. Berries from wild and thorny cultivated types should be glossy black, while berries from cultivated thornless types should be dull black.
When you get your berries home, sort to remove very soft berries, leaves or stems and insects. Soft or damp berries should be used as soon as possible. Do not wash blackberries until just before being used, as this increases the moisture content and will lead to faster decay. If your berries are damp, gently dry them on paper towels. Store them uncovered in a shallow container in the refrigerator for one to two days; after that they will begin to mold and decay. Of course, freezing them in a freezer-quality bag or container allows you to have fresh blackberries anytime you want. Just be sure to leave 1 inch headspace in the container, date and label.
Get your free copy of Arkansas Fresh Blackberries, or contact the Miller County Extension Office, 870-779-3609 or visit us in room 215 at the Miller County Courthouse. We're online at cdue@uada.edu, on Facebook at UAEXMillerCountyFCS/CarlaDue, on Twitter @MillerCountyFCS or on the web at uaex.uada.edu/Miller.
With my birthday being in August, my birthday cake was always a blackberry cobbler from berries mom picked on the side of the road. So you can probably guess that I love blackberries.
This recipe for Blackberry Lemonade will cool you off on a hot summer day and only takes 10 minutes to make.
Blackberry Lemonade
3 cups fresh blackberries
7 cups water
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 (1.9 ounce) package sugar-free pink lemonade drink
Process blackberries in a blender until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides. Pour through a fine wire mesh strainer into a 2-quart pitcher, discard solids. Stir in water, sugar and drink mix. Serve over ice cubes. Refrigerate unused portions. You can garnish the cups with mint leave or lemon slices if desired.
By Carla Due County Extension Agent - FCSThe Cooperative Extension ServiceU of A System Division of Agriculture
Media Contact: Carla Due County Extension Agent - FCSU of A Division of AgricultureCooperative Extension Service400 Laurel Street, Suite 215 Texarkana AR 71854 (870) 779-3609 cdue@uada.edu
The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact your County Extension office (or other appropriate office) as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay. The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.