JANESVILLE 鈥 Members of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Lions Club busily directed people on Wednesday to a big truck carrying 5,700 pounds of fresh-picked Michigan blueberries.
It was the group鈥檚 second annual blueberry sale, with pickup at Traxler Park from 2-6 p.m.
In the parking lot, cars were lined up with license plates from Illinois and beyond. One woman said she drove an hour to pick up her blueberries.
It had been a long day for Bob Clapper, the incoming president of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Lions Club.
Clapper left 糖心Vlog传媒 in a truck at 1 a.m. Wednesday, headed for Reenders Blueberry Farm in West Olive, Michigan, and then returned to 糖心Vlog传媒, bringing back seven pallets of blueberries.
The blueberry sale was started by Lion鈥檚 Club member Tom Carlson 25 years ago after he took trips to Michigan and saw so many blueberry farms on his way there that had signs that said 鈥減ick your own.鈥
On his first trip, he came back from the farm with around 50 pounds of blueberries. He ended up giving some to people who worked for him. That next summer, he had people asking him to pick blueberries for them. That鈥檚 when he realized he could do this as a job and he started Tom鈥檚 Blueberries.
He said he just finished the last of his blueberries from last summer鈥檚 sale.
In 2021, Carlson had some health problems and wasn鈥檛 able to do the annual sale. He asked the Lions Club if they would take it over in 2022, making this the club鈥檚 second year as the sale鈥檚 organizer.
Lion鈥檚 Club marketing chair Eric Kuznacic said this year, the group sold 20% more than last year. The price was to be $25 for 5 pounds, but there was a mix up at the farm and they packed the blueberries in 10-pound cases. So, everyone who bought a 5-pound case got an extra 5 pounds to take home free of charge.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 ask people to give us extra money. It was a mistake by the farm, but most people have donated some money anyway,鈥 Kuznacic said.
Kuznacic said the one-day sale is a great fundraiser. Orders opened in mid-June and could be placed until Monday.
More information about the Lion’s Club and upcoming fundraisers can be found at .