The organization of Metlife is disgusting and sends people in circles. There is no definitive number to contact them...there are a hundred and you will get all the wrong ones unless you check back with the original employer to what contact number they may have.
To prep blackberries for making a puree: Heat the blackberries, fresh or thawed, in a saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice for every 1 cup of berries, fresh or thawed. Heat to warm the berries through, stirring as needed. Blackberry puree can be made with or without seeds. One cup of fresh blackberries produces 1/2 cup of puree, while 1 cup of thawed berries produce 3/4 cup of puree. Store the puree, seeded or seedless, in an airtight container or jar in the fridge for three to five days.
1 Once you bring your fresh berries home, the key to keeping it fresh is to kill any spores on the fruit. 2  The pH of vinegar does that job. 3  Place the berries in a large bowl and wash them in a vinegar-water bath: 1 cup of white vinegar and 8 cups of water. Drain the berries in a colander and then thoroughly rinse the fruit (to remove any vinegar flavor). 2  Thicker skinned fruit (like strawberries or blueberries) can be dried in a salad spinner but delicate berries such as raspberries and blackberries should be dried on a towel, patting them with paper or cloth towels.