Gift Basket Store in West Olive, Michigan

Michigan

Crossroads Blueberry Market

(no reviews)

000-000-0000

14315 Lake Michigan Dr West Olive MI 49460

Business Description

Crossroads Blueberry Farm is a family owned business and operated by Dave and Kelley Reenders. Dave had been farming blueberries his entire life, alongside his father, Marvin Reenders.

In 2000 Dave and Kelley decided to start Crossroads Blueberry Farm, operating it with their four children. Over the past 12 years the business has expanded from 100 to 300 acres of blueberries, primarily being sold as wholesale fruit.

After their second oldest daughter, Amber, graduated from Calvin College and showed interest in being part of the family business, they decided to expand to retail business and opened Crossroads Blueberry Market in 2010.

Main Gift Basket Store Photo For Crossroads Blueberry Market - West Olive, MI

Mission Statement

To provide West Olive quality Gift Basket Store assistance as a Gift Basket Store, Frozen Yogurt Shop, Farmers Market and Chocolate Shop.

Crossroads Blueberry Market meeting your Gift Basket Store needs since 2010.

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History of Blueberries
Blueberries have always been a part of West Michigan. Residents would pick wild blueberries in the woods and marshes along the lakeshore.

In the early 1900â€™s an effort was made to cultivate and grow blueberries commercially. Research was done to find wild varieties of blueberries and propagate new varieties that would satisfy the consumers desire for this delicious fruit.

The first commercial blueberry plants were planted in the 1940â€™s. The growth of the industry was slow due to the need of large numbers of workers to harvest the fruit by hand. That all changed in 1968 when Mr. Harvey, of Grand Haven, invented and patented the mechanical harvester.

The commercial blueberry industry continued to grow, with Michigan leading the way being the largest producer of blueberries in the US. Currently there are approximately 24,000 acres of blueberries in the State of Michigan. West Michigan is the leader of the blueberry industry because of the ideal acidic soils and climate that we have along the lakeshore. Because of blueberries popularity and demand they are now grown all over the US and the world, but Michigan is still recognized as having the best tasting fresh blueberries.

Varieties of Blueberries

We harvest about a dozen different varieties of blueberries, each ready to be picked at a different time in the season, which begins in July and ends in September (the season can vary depending upon weather). Although there are many different varieties of blueberries, there are only a few that are picked by hand and sold for retail in the market. The rest of the varieties are picked by machine and sold to wholesale buyers.

The varieties that are hand picked and sold for retail in the market each have their own taste and time that they are ripe. Dukes, Blue Jay, and Blue Crop have a picking season that goes through the month of July.

These three varieties are very sweet and can be larger in size. They are great for snacking, fresh fruit salads and other summer treats. Elliotts are the last variety of the season to be sold in the retail store. They finish out the season, being picked through the month of August.

Elliotts are ideal for freezing and baking. They are a bit tart in taste but by far have the most flavor for smoothies, blueberry pancakes and baked goods.

Blueberry Market - Products

Bakery

Blueberry Pie, Blueberry Budkle, Blueberry Muffins, Dried Blueberry Cookies

James, Jellies and More

Variety of jam's and jelly's, Blueberry sauces, mustards, vinaigrettes and concentrate.

Gift Idea's

Blueberry scented candles, jam's, jelly's and sauces, chocolate covered blueberries, fruit blossomed honey, cookie mixes, fresh baked goods.

Gift Baskets

Variety of gift baskets and custom gift baskets options

Ice Cream/Yogurt

Hudsonville hard serve ice cream, soft serve yogurt - nonfact & gluten free, yogurt topping bar

Drinks

Smoothies (strawberry, strawberry-Banana, berry and peach), customer favorite - strawberry/peach, blended coffee (mocha, vanilla latte, caramel).