Jujubes at Nuts About Deeβs Berries
Crisp when fresh. Chewy when ripe. One of the most fun fruits to pick in southern Wisconsin.
Grown as part of our perennial agroforestry orchard in southern Wisconsin.
What Are Jujubes?
Jujubes are often called βChinese dates,β but fresh jujubes are very different from what most people expect. When picked early, theyβre crisp and refreshing β closer to an apple than a date. As they ripen on the tree, their texture slowly changes, becoming chewy and naturally sweet.
Unlike many fruits that ripen all at once, jujubes offer multiple ripeness stages on the same tree, making them especially fun to explore during U-pick season. Thereβs no special preparation required β jujubes are easy to enjoy fresh, right in the orchard, or take home to experiment with later.
Jujubes (Ziziphus jujuba) are a deciduous fruiting tree with a long history of cultivation in temperate regions. For detailed botanical information about the species and its characteristics, you can explore the plant profile on the Missouri Botanical Garden website. At Nuts About Deeβs Berries, jujubes are grown as part of our perennial agroforestry orchard, chosen for their resilience, versatility, and unique eating experience.
Why Visitors Love Picking Jujubes
Jujubes offer one of the most enjoyable U-pick experiences in the orchard. Unlike fruits that are either βreadyβ or βnot,β jujubes invite visitors to explore, taste, and choose based on personal preference β all on the same tree.
Multiple Ripeness Stages at Once
Youβll find crisp, apple-like jujubes and fully ripe, chewy-sweet jujubes on the same branch β making every visit a little different.
Pick What You Like, When You Like
Prefer fresh and crunchy? Pick early. Love chewy, caramel-like sweetness? Come later. Many visitors enjoy sampling both.
Easy, Low-Mess Picking
Jujubes are simple to harvest, hold up well in baskets, and donβt require delicate handling β great for families and first-time pickers.
A βTry One Now, Pick More Laterβ Fruit
Jujubes are approachable and surprising. Most visitors try one out of curiosity⦠and then keep going.
Itβs one of the few fruits that turns picking into an experience β not just a harvest.
When Jujubes Are Ready to Pick
In southern Wisconsin, including the Brodhead and Green County area, jujube season typically begins in mid-September and can extend into October, depending on weather and variety. Unlike many fruits that ripen all at once, jujubes mature gradually β offering several weeks of picking as the fruit moves through different ripeness stages.
Because jujubes change in both color and texture as they ripen, timing your visit depends on what you enjoy most. Some visitors prefer the crisp, apple-like stage early in the season, while others wait for fully ripe jujubes with a chewy texture and deeper sweetness.
Rather than setting a single βperfectβ date, we share harvest updates as the season unfolds, reflecting real conditions here in southern Wisconsin.
Green to Light Yellow
Early season β crisp, refreshing, lightly sweet
Light Brown / Blushing
Mid-season β balanced texture, increasing sweetness
Fully Brown
Late season β chewy, rich, naturally sweet Excellent for drying and tea
Because ripening varies from year to year, we recommend watching for harvest updates through our newsletterand Facebook page, where we share real-time picking announcements as fruit becomes available.
Flavor Profile & Pairings
Jujubes are one of those rare fruits that completely change personality as they ripen. At our farm, visitors experience jujubes at multiple stages β each with its own flavor, texture, and best uses β making them especially fun to explore during the harvest season.
Early in the season, jujubes are crisp and refreshing, more like an apple than a dried date. This fresh stage shines for snacking and simple pairings, much like other fresh-picked orchard fruits such as honeyberries, juneberries, and pawpaws. As the season progresses, jujubes deepen in sweetness, becoming chewy and rich with warm, caramel-like notes.
Because of this natural transformation, jujubes move easily from fresh eating to the kitchen. Whether enjoyed straight from the tree, paired with nuts and other pantry staples, or incorporated into desserts, teas, and preserved foods, jujubes reward patience and timing β and invite creativity at every stage.
Flavor Profile by Ripeness
Fresh / Crisp Stage (Early Season)
- Clean, lightly sweet flavor
- Apple-like crunch
- Bright and refreshing
- Best enjoyed fresh, sliced, or paired with light foods
Fully Ripe Stage (Late Season)
- Chewy, date-like texture
- Brown sugar and caramel notes
- Warmer, dessert-friendly sweetness
- Ideal for baking, drying, teas, and rich pairings
Pairing Highlights
Fully ripe jujubes shine alongside:
- Dark chocolate, cocoa, and coffee
- Warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, and clove
- Nutty flavors such as almond, hazelnut, and sesame
- Green, black, and herbal teas
Early-season jujubes pair beautifully with fresh fruit, mild cheeses, yogurt, nuts, and light greens when eaten crisp straight from the tree.
Why Pick Jujubes Fresh from the Farm
Jujubes are one of the most rewarding fruits to experience fresh from the tree. Unlike many fruits that offer a single, fleeting harvest moment, jujubes ripen gradually β changing in texture, sweetness, and use as the season unfolds. Picking them yourself lets you taste that progression firsthand and choose fruit exactly the way you like it.
When you pick jujubes at the farm, youβre not just harvesting fruit β youβre participating in the rhythm of the orchard.
Multiple Ripeness Stages β One Visit
Unlike most fruits that offer a single βperfect moment,β jujubes ripen in stages on the same tree. Visitors can taste crisp, apple-like fruit early in the season, then return later for softer, sweeter jujubes β all from the same orchard.
Freshness You Can Taste
Jujubes picked directly from the tree retain their:
Natural crunch or chew
Bright, clean sweetness
Aromatic depth that fades quickly after harvest
Store-bought jujubes are often dried or harvested at a single stage. Fresh-picked jujubes let you experience the fruit as itβs meant to be eaten.
Pick What You Like
Some people love crisp jujubes. Others prefer them partially softened or fully ripe. U-pick allows you to choose fruit based on your taste, not someone elseβs harvest schedule.
Youβre not just buying jujubes β youβre choosing your ripeness.
Grown with Purpose
Our jujubes are grown as part of a perennial agroforestry orchard in southern Wisconsin, selected for resilience, flavor, and adaptability. Each tree is managed for long-term health, not short-term yield.
That means better fruit β today and for years to come.
One of the most forgiving fruits youβll ever take home from the orchard.
Fresh Storage
Fresh jujubes keep well at room temperature for several days, especially when picked in the crisp stage. For longer storage, refrigeration helps maintain their crunch and mild sweetness without sacrificing flavor.
Natural Drying as They Ripen
As jujubes mature, they naturally transition from crisp to chewy right on the tree. At home, fully ripe jujubes can continue to dry naturally β no special equipment required. This slow transformation concentrates sweetness and deepens flavor.
Why Jujubes Store Better Than Most Fruit
Unlike many delicate fruits, jujubes are remarkably resilient. Their firm skin and evolving texture mean theyβre less prone to bruising and spoilage, making them ideal for fresh eating, gradual drying, or short-term storage without pressure to use them immediately.
Pick what youβll enjoy now, and let the rest change at its own pace.
Naturally Nutritious β A Fruit Valued for Centuries
Jujubes have long been enjoyed as a nourishing fruit, valued not only for their flavor but also for their natural nutritional profile. When eaten fresh or gently dried, jujubes offer a balance of vitamins, fiber, and plant compounds that support everyday wellness.
Rather than being used as a medicinal fruit, jujubes have traditionally been incorporated into daily diets β eaten fresh, simmered into teas, or dried for later use.
Key Nutritional Highlights
Vitamin C
Fresh jujubes contain notable amounts of vitamin C, especially when eaten early in the season. This contributes to immune support and overall vitality as part of a varied diet.
Dietary Fiber
Jujubes provide natural fiber, which supports digestion and helps make the fruit satisfying whether eaten fresh or dried.
Antioxidant Compounds
Like many tree fruits, jujubes contain naturally occurring polyphenols and flavonoids β plant compounds that help protect cells from everyday oxidative stress.
A Traditionally Nourishing Fruit
Across cultures, jujubes have been appreciated as a gentle, nourishing food rather than a remedy β often included in warm drinks, simple desserts, or eaten out of hand as part of daily life.
Small-Batch & Commercial Uses
Jujubes are increasingly valued for their versatility in small-batch and commercial applications, particularly when harvested at later ripeness stages. Their naturally concentrated sweetness and firm texture make them well suited for gentle processing without losing character.
Common uses include:
Dried jujubes for retail or ingredient use
Tea blends and infusions, especially with fully ripe fruit
Baking inclusions, where mild sweetness and chew add texture
Specialty products exploring traditional or regional flavors
As a developing crop on our farm, jujube availability for small-batch or commercial use is currently limited. Production is expected to expand gradually as trees mature, allowing us to maintain quality while scaling responsibly.
Jujubes in Our Orchard System
Jujubes play an important role in our diversified orchard system in Brodhead, Green County, Wisconsin, where we focus on long-term resilience rather than short-term production. Well suited to southern Wisconsinβs climate, jujube trees tolerate variable weather, develop deep root systems, and remain productive for decades.
At Nuts About Deeβs Berries, jujubes are grown as part of a layered, perennial agroforestry design alongside other fruit and nut crops. This system prioritizes soil health, biodiversity, and stability β creating an orchard that supports both the land and the people who visit it.
By integrating jujubes into our orchard system, weβre building a farm rooted in place, seasonality, and thoughtful stewardship.
Ready to Taste Jujubes for Yourself?
Jujube harvest isnβt rushed. Trees carry fruit at different stages of ripeness, inviting visitors to slow down, explore, and discover what they like best. Itβs a simple experience β fresh air, seasonal fruit, and a direct connection to where your food comes from.
Common Questions About Jujubes
Fresh jujubes are crisp and mildly sweet early in the season, similar to an apple. As they ripen, they become softer, chewier, and naturally sweeter with caramel-like notes. Many visitors enjoy tasting more than one stage.
No β despite sometimes being called βChinese dates,β fresh jujubes are very different from dried dates. Fresh jujubes are crisp or chewy depending on ripeness and are enjoyed much like other fresh fruit.
Yes. Jujubes are easy to pick and low-mess, making them a great fruit for families. As always, children should be supervised in the orchard.
No reservation requirements, however, harvest timing varies by season and availability. The best way to stay informed is to follow our harvest updates or join our newsletter for current picking information.
Jujube season typically runs from early September through October in southern Wisconsin, depending on weather and variety. Because fruit ripens in stages, availability can change week to week.
Starting in 2028 limited quantities may be available for small-batch or specialty uses as trees mature. Availability varies by season. Please contact us or watch for announcements if youβre interested.
Fresh jujubes can be enjoyed right away or refrigerated to extend crispness. As they continue to ripen, they naturally become softer and sweeter.
Still have questions?
Weβre happy to help β feel free to reach out before planning your visit.
Discover Our Wide Variety of Nuts and Berries
At At Nuts about Deeβs Berries, we grow elderberries as part of our diverse agroforestry farm in Southern Wisconsin. Known for their immune-supporting benefits and bold flavor, elderberries are used in syrups, jellies, and wines. This image showcases freshly picked elderberries with homemade syrup β a taste of the food forest that blends health, sustainability, and culinary tradition., we pride ourselves on offering a diverse selection of delicious and nutritious crops. In addition to our featured crop, we also grow a variety of other fruits and nuts that are perfect for U-pick adventures. Explore our other offerings and discover your new favorite treat. We are sure that you will find something that you like, and that fits your needs.Β
Discover Our Wide Variety of Nuts and Berries
At Dee’s Nutz and Berries, we pride ourselves on offering a diverse selection of delicious and nutritious crops. In addition to our featured crop, we also grow a variety of other fruits and nuts that are perfect for U-pick adventures. Explore our other offerings and discover your new favorite treat. We are sure that you will find something that you like, and that fits your needs.Β