Basket to Blanket

Big L Ranch Blueberry U-Pick

Words by Lifestyle Staff | Photos by Topograph

Lifestyle: Can you share a bit about the start of Big L Ranch and how it has evolved over the years?

Big L: We began planting in 2016, but 2018 was the year we officially opened to the public. The blueberry bushes were small, and we had only a handful of visitors. Our self-funded business has grown slowly and steadily over the last six years. As first-generation farmers, we’ve learned along the way, including how to become Certified Organic. Our new field trip program is thriving and we even got our own Big L Ranch blueberry label. We’re 100% vertically integrated: We grow, pick, and pack our own blueberries right here.

Lifestyle: What can visitors expect when they visit your ranch during the picking season?

Big L: Our visitors enjoy a beautiful ride through the countryside as they head towards our small farm. It’s tucked back off the road, nestled near the Kaweah River with mountains all around. We have plenty of parking, shaded seating, lawn games, drinks, snacks, and blueberry treats. Our Grape Trailer Boutique offers up local makers’ goods!

Lifestyle: When can people plan to pick blueberries at Big L Ranch?

Big L: Our blueberries are ready in May and June. Opening weekend begins May 11th! We open to the public in May (WedSun) and June (all week!) through June 23rd. Fresh and frozen organic blueberries will be available through later months.

Lifestyle: Can you describe the different blueberry varieties grown on your ranch and their unique flavors or characteristics?

Big L: Yes! We grow five varieties of blueberries here, each varying in flavor and harvest time: Snowchaser, Ventura, Star, Suzi Blue, and San Joaquin. Snowchasers are smaller, very crunchy and sweet, while the San Joaquin blueberries are very large, packing a punch of flavor with some tartness. California blueberries are bigger than Lowbush blueberries, which grow in colder places, like Maine.

Lifestyle: What are some challenges you face as blueberry farmers? How do you overcome them?

Big L: Our greatest challenges are gophers and grasses! The second year, we lost over 200 blueberry bushes because gophers ate the roots. As organic farmers, there are fewer options available for pest control—we just do our best. Grasses are also an issue for us as organic farmers. We don’t spray pesticides or herbicides in our field, so we have a lot of soil biodiversity. A lot of things grow.

Lifestyle: How do you engage with the local community, and what role does community support play in the success of your ranch?

Big L: During blueberry season, between 5,000-10,000 guests visit our farm. And we offer as much blueberry education as folks are interested in! In 2023, almost 2,000 local students took a field trip here to learn about organic farming and blueberries. We focus on eating healthy local foods—which is us! Our organic blueberries are available to the public who visit our farm—its success depends on both our local community and National Park tourists passing through.

Lifestyle: What are your future plans or goals for Big L Ranch?

Big L: We are always thinking of ways to keep things feeling fresh! In the plans: The Big L Ranch Country Club, a private access membership program to give locals access to activities here, outside of blueberry season. We also plan to add two or three Ranch Bungalows for overnight guests. And we’re slowly expanding our organic produce offerings: Citrus, cherries, blackberries, maybe more stone fruit. The best way to support our local community is with direct access to local organic produce, plus access to nature. In the future, travelers and locals can look forward to many new outdoor opportunities here.

Open May-June

20899 Avenue 322, Woodlake 559-280-2767 | biglranch.com | @biglranch