PRAIRIE GROVE -- Blueberries were so plentiful this year that Ron Jarvis with U Pick Blueberry Farms in Prairie Grove was worried he wouldn't be able to get rid of all his fruit.
He found two non-profit organizations that were glad to share his crop.
"We've always given some fruit away to people in need," Jarvis said. "This year, we have an abundance. I prayed to God to send someone to get this fruit."
In came Life Ministries in Prairie Grove and Teen Challenge Ranch in Morrow. Through contacts with both groups, Jarvis was able to donate 100 gallons to Life Ministries and about 20 gallons to Teen Challenge.
"It makes it nice to get it in someone's hands who needs it," Jarvis said.
Jarvis and others picked the berries to donate to Life Ministries. For Teen Challenge, a therapeutic boys' boarding school, boys from the ranch came out and picked the blueberries.
Dave Robins with Life Ministries said the donated blueberries were divided into pint-size containers and given out to senior adults and families coming to pick up food for the month. Life Ministries also shared some of its berries with GRACE Place in Lincoln.
"You should have seen their faces light up," Robins said referring to the seniors who received fresh blueberries. "They were talking about pies, blueberry muffins, blueberry pancakes."
Robins noted that at $2.75 per pint, fresh blueberries are expensive for many seniors and families to afford.
"This was a tremendous contribution on his (Jarvis') part," Robins said, adding that Life Ministries does not have a place to store fresh produce. "I can't say how much it meant for us to give out fresh fruit."
Steve Williams, case manager with Teen Challenge, said the donation was timely because the boys at the ranch had recently signed a letter requesting more fruits and vegetables.
"We had started having a salad at our meals so this was right in line with that," Williams said,
The ranch serves boys ages 14-17 and Williams said it can be expensive purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables to feed teenage boys. The ranch has space for 28 boys and Williams said staff members receive calls all the time from parents who are seeking help for their sons.
While talking to Jarvis about growing blueberries, Williams said he learned information to serve as an illustration in reaching kids at the ranch. For the first two years, the buds are picked off so fruit will not grow and roots will become established.
"Get your foundation down first," Williams said. "That's a sermon one day."
Jarvis started his blueberry farm as a way for his children to make a little money. He planted 1,700 blueberry plants on two acres five years ago. This is his third year to harvest the fruit.
He and his wife own Jarvis Pediatric Therapy, which provides occupational and physical therapy to children.
General News on 07/23/2014