My berries are gone!

[FourAM]

I know this is probably going to seem stupid to some but I know there have to be some of you that can relate!

You see for the last, I don't know, maybe 3 years I have bought this specific bag of frozen berries from Sams. "Townsend Farms Triple Berry Blend" !
I always stalk up when I go. I would buy at least 4 bags if not more because I eat the crap out of them. They go in my oatmeal, my shakes and everything in between. I never thought about how much I relied on this specific product until today when I went to do my monthly stock up and there were none to be found. The horror. I felt an anguish that I did not know I could get from something like that. The only thing I can compare it to is the exact opposite of the feeling I had when I saw that STS cardio was going to be made. The excitment I felt about that was immeasurable which is what the sadness is about these berries...What will I do. How will I replace this particular staple in my diet that I thought would always be available... I have had other frozen berries, and they are not the same.
I am inconsolible.
Rachel

 

[chefkate]

my grocer has special ordered things for me - maybe yours would do the same? esp if youre buying the case!

 

[syzygy314]

I feel your pain! I used to be a Sam's shopper. They get in whatever they can get a deal on in bulk. You get hooked on a product they carry and then, WHAM, it disappears forever!

I'm sorry for your loss!

Think positively though, the berry-tasting could be fun while trying to find a suitable replacement!

 

[RapidBreath]

How sad!

I know how you feel! I felt that way when I went outside to discover my roses had been eaten, roots and all, by deer.

 

[soon2bfit]

Costco has them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[janiejoey]

Grow your own! It's easy, less expensive, and you can just about plant them anywhere. I have mine in barrels. I chose to have 3 red raspberries and 2 everbearing raspberries. I even have planted blueberries. I also pick blackberries in season and freeze them as well. Also you can choose which berries you would like to have, there are lots of varieties. They can be organic, you can freeze them...there are always way to much, so I freeze what I don't eat right away.

Can't get better than that.

Janie

 

[banslug]

Grow your own! It's easy, less expensive, and you can just about plant them anywhere. I have mine in barrels. I chose to have 3 red raspberries and 2 everbearing raspberries. I even have planted blueberries. I also pick blackberries in season and freeze them as well. Also you can choose which berries you would like to have, there are lots of varieties. They can be organic, you can freeze them...there are always way to much, so I freeze what I don't eat right away.

Can't get better than that.

Janie

Now THAT I'd like to hear more about!!! How big are these barrels and where do you keep them? I'm so intrigued by this!

Gayle

 

[janiejoey]

Gayle,

There is tons of info on the internet on how to grow berries and what type of berries to grow in your own area.

I get the barrels from Wall mart or Fred n Meyer stores. They are wine barrels (drill 5 big holes on the bottom of ea. barrel) I put garden soil in them and compost the first 3 or 4 inches with mushroom compost every year. I've had mine for many years so far. With the raspberries, I let them grow the first year as they are. During the Fall, I cut them down about 1.5 to 2 ft long. Never less than that. Many nursery people will tell you that you can cut them to the ground. Don't do that, they have been misinformed. Then next year the 1.5 -2 foot cutting will grow shoots from what you have cut and that is where your berries will grow. You will find more shoots growing, leave them as if they were new plants and in the Fall cut those new shoots to 1.5 -2 feet long. Then you can cut the older shoots to the ground because you will have no more need for them and they will die anyway. Continue with that method and you will have an abundance of berries. You can tell the difference between new shoots and older shoots by their color. The older shoots will be a grayish brown while the new shoots have more color to them. Hope this helps anyone who want to grow raspberries. Oh, I keep them in as much sun as possible.

Blueberries are another story. Once you plant them along with mushroom compost such as described above, place on top of that about 6 inch of sawdust. Do not disturb the plants after that, their roots are close to the ground and if disturbed will die out. Weed when necessary and during the Fall place another 6 inches of sawdust on top of that. In the early Spring get a great natural fertilizer to throw on top of the sawdust,then again in early Summer. Nurseries can help you decide which ones to buy. Internet is a great help too. They don't produce for about 3-5 years. But still worth it to me.

Blackberries are so invasive, that I go hunting for them and pick them in the late Summer where I live around town, in fields...

Enjoy,

Janie

 

[syzygy314]

Grow your own! It's easy, less expensive, and you can just about plant them anywhere. I have mine in barrels. I chose to have 3 red raspberries and 2 everbearing raspberries. I even have planted blueberries. I also pick blackberries in season and freeze them as well. Also you can choose which berries you would like to have, there are lots of varieties. They can be organic, you can freeze them...there are always way to much, so I freeze what I don't eat right away.

Can't get better than that.

Janie

Now there's a thought! Where do you live? I'm wondering because I live in New England and don't know if the season would be long enough!

Thanks!

 

[FourAM]

I have the blackest thumb that there ever was, Janie. I kill the unkillable! The DH has forbidden me from ever planting again because he says it is cruel and unusual punishment for plants to come to our house I try to follow direction but it all dies...it all just dies.
Rachel

 

[janiejoey]

I have the blackest thumb that there ever was, Janie. I kill the unkillable! The DH has forbidden me from ever planting again because he says it is cruel and unusual punishment for plants to come to our house I try to follow direction but it all dies...it all just dies.
Rachel

Rachel, LOL You are too funny. Then I won't tell you how to grow strawberries. YUMMMMY!

My advice to you, is go to your local growers market and purchase from them when they are in season. Or look around and find another store that may have them, or tell your store that it's unacceptable, and you demand to have them back. Good luck with that one. LOL

Wish I had better words of wisdom for you.

Syzygy, Berries are very adaptable in New England. Just grow them in barrels as I described and in the sunniest spot around. Enjoy.

Janie

 

[TCB309]

Try Aldi's

I buy the triple berry blend from Sam's too. Our Sam's still had the berries last weekend. Hopefully they will be back at yours! I mix them with the Dole frozen fruit mix (pineapple, mango, peaches, and strawberries) and pomegranate juice to make the best smoothies!!

I found a triple berry mix at Aldi's. I believe it was the Fit and Active brand. I haven't tried it, but hopefully it is one of those products where it is made by the same people and just put in a different package!

Good luck!

 

[TCB309]

Grow your own! It's easy, less expensive, and you can just about plant them anywhere. I have mine in barrels. I chose to have 3 red raspberries and 2 everbearing raspberries. I even have planted blueberries. I also pick blackberries in season and freeze them as well. Also you can choose which berries you would like to have, there are lots of varieties. They can be organic, you can freeze them...there are always way to much, so I freeze what I don't eat right away.

Can't get better than that.

Janie

That's a great idea! I wish I had the room!

 

[kathryn]

Are you sure they weren't just temporarily out of stock?

If not, I understand your disappointment. Seems like my local grocery stores don't like to keep stocking stuff I like.

 

[janie1234]

It is soon to be berry season. If you have some farmers markets you can get them fresh.

 

[llp]

Hi Rachel:
I really like the 3 Berry Mix at Costco (which must be similar to Sam's), too! Since I don't seem to get to Costco much, I get the 3 Berry Mix at Trader Joe's, for $3.29 for 16 ounces. TJ's also has a similar mix with cherries added, for $2.99 for 16 ounces. Also, I saw the 3 berry mix at Whole Foods today for ~$3.00, also. I live in Portland, but, maybe you have these options in your area which you can check out, too? I hope I gave you some ideas so that you can find some frozen berries to enjoy!