Albeke Farms

Patience and good timing are the secrets to a fruitful life. At least that’s how I remember the comment I heard many years back that resonated with me. (Although not so much have I learned to apply either.) Standing in the long line today at the Albeke Farms booth at the Boise Idaho Farmers Market to buy my very favorite and so short lived berry, Oregon Boysenberries, I thought about the opening comment. If you are patient to wait a bit and have the good timing to visit the market in the right weeks, you too can be beneficiary of Albeke Farms hard work to grow these bodalicious berries.
I have recently changed my status from Oregonian to Idahoan and I was thinking, given it is Boysenberry season in Oregon right now and they don’t really grow all that easily anywhere else, this year I’d miss out. Imagine my delight to find Albeke at the Boise Farmer’s Market with Boysenberries to sell last week!
As my hubby and I exited the market with the berries (and other treasures) two women stopped me to ask what they were. I told them and offered them a sample. But you know, with Boysenberries it is like the old Cheech and Chong line. «Heyheyhey…the first one’s free… heyheyhey.» Because they are addictively good. Even at the steep price of $ 3 /​cup at the Albeke booth, I am happy to pay it to get my fix.
Last week I walked right up to the Albeke table to make my purchase. This week, I had to stand in a sizeable queue with other people who were there to buy Boysenberries and Marionberries (first of the season they said) and raspberries and blueberries and blackcaps (only this week they said). I was happy to wait because it means Albeke is doing brisk business and maybe that means they’ll come back to Boise next Boysenberry season too. I know how to be patient.
THIS N THAT:
A little sign at the Albeke booth says they’ll carry your berries to your care for you if you’re buying too many to carry yourself. Nice.

I’ve been going here with my family for awhile and had an okay experience but on our most recent trip we brought our new little 5 month pug with us and the lady was very rude and told us to put her away. There were 2 other people asking us questions about what we wanted to pick so we couldn’t put her away right then and she yelled over to us «I need you to put the dog away. NOW.» Very rude I was shocked. I was even more shocked that she was making us leave the puppy in the car while it was hot out. At least offer water. There wasn’t even a no pets allowed sign so how were we supposed to know? And it wasn’t because she was worried about the dog poop, but apparently there are other dogs. Maybe they should take the time to train those dogs. When we got to picking the berries they were very small and sad and less than half were pickable and we weren’t able to move to a different area. I suggest picking at a different you pick.