In the twenty-three years since starting their organic U-pick blueberry farm, Robert and Maxine Falls have really seen their efforts bear fruit. The Falls, who originally planted blueberry bushes as an alternative to mowing two empty acres, now have 650 bushes and 15 varieties. And they’re having a bumper crop!
“We sold eight thousand pounds last year, if we have luck and have sunshine, and everything goes good, we’ll surpass that this year,” says Robert Falls. “There’s 5 pounds to the gallon, so that’s a thousand two hundred and fifty gallons of berries off of two acres. Ain’t that something? It’s really amazing!”
The big harvest is good news to customers who are coming in by the droves. After putting out their sign last Friday the Falls saw the new season start off big.
“I think everybody in the county must have come. All I had time to do was park cars. It’s wonderful!” states Falls.
The Falls really cater to their youngest customers, whose laughter and chatter is heard all around as they scamper from bush to bush picking berries, some of them going into their buckets.
“I try to keep it mowed for the kids so that they will be able to come barefoot, and most of them do,” remarks Falls. “We do a neat little thing for the kids. We’ve been doing it for years. When they get through picking, we give them an icy. We must go through four or five cases of icies a year!” he says with a laugh. He adds, “The kids bring the parents back, that’s the best advertising you can do. The kids really enjoy it here. We just turn them loose and let them go.”
His grown up customers appreciate his efforts.
“I could do this every day, this is like free babysitting. They’re having a ball just running around! This is our first time to do it, and it is great. The kids are just loving it!” customer Jamey Blair says with a smile, as she fills her berry bucket.
There is still time to enjoy the luscious berries. According to Falls, “There will be berries here till the last of August.”
Located at 111 Harmon Road in Maryville, the farm, which is also accessible to wheelchairs, is open from 7:00 a.m. till dark Monday through Friday, and 3:30 p.m. till dark on Sunday. The cost is $4.00 a gallon.

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