With the 4th of July rapidly approaching, it’s time to color-coordinate the party menu. Blueberries and raspberries make the perfect fruit combo for the 4th, or anytime really (they work perfectly as stars and stripes on a flag cake). High in antioxidants and flavor, these colorful berries ripen in the summer. Here’s what to look for:

Blueberries: Healthy blueberries sport a dark blue color with a frosty sheen. They should be firm and plump when bought mature. If looking for berries outside, mature ones easily roll off the stem if you rub them with your fingers. Blueberries typically ripen all at once, so if picking your own, make sure not to miss their sweet spot!

Raspberries: Raspberries damage more easily than blueberries. Keep them in shallow containers so they stay fresh and bursting with juice instead of deflated and mashed. Their fragile skin bruises easily and so should be handled with care. When picking your own raspberries, they easily come off the plant. Their deep pink/red color and tart smell indicate their ripeness.

We checked out some places in CU to grab these berries. Here’s what we found:

County Market: Close to campus and selling fresh organic berries ~ $2.50 – $3.00

Strawberry Fields: Located in downtown Urbana with organic berries for a cheaper price ~ $2.40

Farmers’ Market: You can only get these berries Saturday mornings, but they’re grown locally, so buying them supports the community. Also, you can get these berries at their source by making an appointment at the farm to go pick them yourself.

UIUC Idea Garden: You can’t buy these berries, but you can watch them ripen before you. It’s a personal “how-to” display for those wanting to grow your own. Unfortunately, not being able to pick them and take them with you is a downer.