Bubba’s Blueberry Farm, a u-pick operation in Michigan City, is open only Saturdays and Sundays this season as the new owners ramp up.

A few years ago, I pressed Mr. Diva into going to Billy’s Blueberry Farm in Michigan City to pick some fruit. I had never been and wanted to check it out, as it wasn’t far from our home in Beverly Shores.

We were given plastic buckets to strap around our necks, and set about picking. I was pleased to find that most berries were on tall bushes that could be plucked without stooping. And tall Mr. Diva could get the really high ones. Still, it was a humid day, and soon Mr. Diva was done. “I feel like I’m on an It’s Just Lunch date,” he grumbled before departing.

Billy’s closed in 2024, and now has new owners.

When Roger Benda’s dad, a Beverly Shores resident who can often be found on the beach with his dog, Bubba, saw that Billy’s was for sale, he had one thought.

He called his son and asked, “What do you know about blueberry farming?” The answer: nothing. To which he replied, “You’d better learn fast.”

Both father and son wanted to see the longtime blueberry orchard stay agricultural. Roger believes the farm has been operation since at least the mid-1970s, though it may have had different owners previous to Billy’s.

With Michigan City starting to develop, neither man wanted to see the place, which Roger visited as a child, bulldozed for home development. “We’re glad to be the next stewards and we take it seriously,” he says.

Roger and his wife, Annie, found the property to be “a little rough,” and set about pruning, painting, and building a new pole barn on the property. There’s a lot more to be done, and they consider this season to be a trial run.

Of the 28 acres that comprise the property, just eight are planted, in blueberries and a patch of lavender. Roger, who works in IT and lives in south suburban Chicago, says he’s considering planting pumpkins for fall and tulips for spring. He’s also working on partnering with a local baker to offer pies and muffins, which were popular items at Billy’s.

For the rest of the season, which runs through the end of August, pick your own berries for $2.50 per pound or buy pre-picked pints for $5 each. “Money is money but I want to make it so that people can come here,” Roger says of the reasonable prices. Three types of blueberries are available, including High Bush, my favorite. Though the farm is not certified organic, Roger says no pesticides are used on the plants.

When you arrive, the owners’ friendly children will likely greet you. Their 7-year-old daughter told me she’s in charge of checking $100 bills for authenticity. And who knows? You might also run into the business’s mascot, Bubba.

Bubba’s Blueberries, 650 Freyer Rd, Michigan City, roger@bubbasblueberries.com