The Blueberry Ranch

CLOSED FOR U-PICK. Owner John Nelson retired at the close of the 2026 season after 50 years, and the final u-pick day was Saturday 1 August 2026 - confirmed by WNDU, WVPE and WSBT in the week before. As of early September 2026 no sale has been announced. The 90-acre farm remains listed; Nelson is offering a $50,000 referral reward to anyone who identifies the next owner and has published an acquisition and expansion plan on the farm's website in hopes someone will carry it forward. He has said that if no buyer comes forward he will consider other options including auction, so the ground may not stay a blueberry farm. The business remains open through the winter for frozen berries, jam, pies and pop-up sales while the search continues, and Google posts no hours. Blueberries have grown on this ground for 73 years; Nelson grew up in the Michigan blueberry industry, managed the ranch after college and bought it outright four years later, running it since 1981, and converted to 100% USDA certified organic in 2009 - the largest organic blueberry farm in the Midwest and the only certified organic blueberry farm in northern Indiana. 4.6 across 184 ratings. Picking was unusually well organised: a tram or tractor ride out to the rows, each party assigned their own full bush rather than left to pick over empty ones, guides in the field to help, buckets with liners, wash stations, indoor toilets and a shaded picnic area. Roughly $20 for 4-5lb. In-season hours were Mon/Wed/Fri 7am-7pm, Tue/Thu 7am-9pm, weekends 7am-5pm, on Eastern time. Cards accepted. Two caveats from reviewers: a party who phoned ahead to reserve 50lb pre-picked drove two hours and were told none was left, and another was sold prior-year frozen berries with no pack date. One reviewer noted a long walk out to the rows, which mattered for a blind family member.