Berried treasure: Blueberry pickin' at Payeur's

Blueberry empowerment.

That's what it is.

It's giving the power of choice back to the people.

The choice to say, "No, I don't want my blueberries decided for me. I want to hand-select each individual specimen, pushing aside the too plump or the imperfect just like I do my friends."

And at Payeur's Pick-Your-Own, the blueberry authority lies in you.

Not far off Otis Allen Road in Sanford, the farm boasts rows and rows of cultivated blueberries. And this, my friends, is the time to pick 'em.

Payeur's sells by the pound ($2.20) and even keeps a stack of blue buckets on hand (the better to keep from staining your shirt with). I judged it'd take hours to actually fill one - berry by tiny blue berry.

But the ripe things were everywhere - on every bush - each looking more tempting than the last. There was no heading to the back to avoid the over-picked shrubs. There was no scavenging to find a tart, pluckable bunch.

My bucket grew heavy in no time.

Balloons moved swiftly up and down nearby rows - alerting pickers to the whereabouts of purple-fingered kids who'd bolted from their chaperons.

Back at the barn, where our buckets of blueberries were weighed out and paid for, we took the liberty of sampling the Payeur's Homemade blueberry ice cream.

Regret No. 1: I purchased only one quart. Utterly insufficient.

Check out Payeur's on Otis Allen Road, Sanford (207-324-3200) or any other pick you own (there's a roundup of some berry picking joints in the summer guide).

And if you find yourself at a blueberry impasse (what does one do with five pounds of blueberries?) here's a noteworthy recipe we snagged at Payeur's:

Vodka Blueberry Liquor
1 C white sugar
3 C fresh blueberries
2 C vodka
In a two-quart jar, dissolve sugar in vodka. Pour in blueberries and cover jar. Store in a cool, dark place for two months (refrigerator is okay). Occasionally shake gently. Strain and serve in cordial glasses or if you prefer, over ice.

An excellent way to salute your newfound Blueberry Prowess and officially "stick it" to the Prepackaged Blueberry Man.