Learn About Blueberries

History of Blueberries

Blueberries are native to North America where they grow throughout the woods and mountainous regions in the United States and Canada. This fruit is rarely found growing in Europe and has only been recently introduced in Australia.

There are approximately 30 different species of blueberries with different ones growing throughout various regions. For example, the Highbush variety can be found throughout the Eastern seaboard from Maine to Florida, the Lowbush variety throughout the Northeast and Eastern Canada, and the Evergreen variety throughout states in the Pacific Northwest.

While blueberries played an important role in North American Indian food culture, being an ingredient in pemmican, a traditional dish composed of the fruit and dried meat, they were not consumed in great amounts by the colonists until the mid-19th century. This seems to be related to the fact that people did not appreciate their tart flavor, and only when sugar became more widely available as a sweetener at this time, did they become more popular.

Blueberries were not cultivated until the beginning of the 20th century, becoming commercially available in 1916.

Cultivation of blueberries was spearheaded by a botanist at the United States Department of Agriculture who pioneered research into blueberry production. His work was forwarded by Elizabeth White, whose family established the first commercial blueberry fields.

Did you know that blueberries are green when they first appear and one of the few naturally blue foods on earth?

Varieties of Blueberries at Bartlett’s

The seasonality listed below is based on our season at Bartlett’s. You will generally find the Early Season varieties (Earliblue & Collins) from mid-July to the end of July. The Mid Season varieties (Blueray & Bluecrop) from the end of July to early August, and the Late Season varieties (Jersey & Chandler) from the second week of August until the season finishes.

Earliblue

Season: Early Season
Size: Small
Taste: Classic, semi-tart flavor
Recommended for: Making jam or for a pie!

Collins

Season: Early-Mid Season
Size: Medium
Taste: sweet flavor
Recommended for: Fresh eating, jams, pies and Blueberry cobbler.

Blueray

Season: Mid-Late Season
Size: Medium
Taste: Complex, tangy, overall sweet flavor.
Recommended for: Picking at a high volume, good for desserts!

Bluecrop

Season: Mid-Late Season
Size: Large
Taste: sweet, one of our fan favourites
Recommended for: Fresh eating, freezing, preserves and baking

JerseySeason: Late Season Size: Small Taste: on the tart side, has a similar flavor to a wild blueberry Recommended for: Making muffins or pancakes — Jersey
**Season:** Late Season
**Size:** Small
Taste: on the tart side, has a similar flavor to a wild blueberry
**Recommended for:** Making muffins or pancakes

Chandler

Season: Late Season
Size: Large
Taste: Good flavor, not as tart as other varieties
Recommended for: Snacking (due to it’s larger size)

Health Benefits of Blueberries

Blueberries are bursting with nutrients and flavor, yet very low in calories.

Researchers at Tufts University analyzed 60 fruits and vegetables for their antioxidant capability- luckily for us (and our customers), blueberries came out on top, rating highest in their capacity to destroy free radicals!

Blueberries are considered to...

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Be an Antioxidant Powerhouse
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Provide a Healthy Dose of Vitamin C
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Help Maintain Healthy Bones
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Improve Memory and Help Maintain Brain Function

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Prevent Heart Disease
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Lower Blood Pressure
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Assist Health Digestion
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Reduce DNA Damage (which may prevent Cancer)

Caring for Your Blueberries

Storing

Ripe blueberries should be stored in a loosely covered container in the refrigerator where they will keep for about a week, although they will be at their best if consumed within a few days of picking.

Always check berries before storing and remove any damaged berries to prevent the spread of mold. If kept out at room temperature for more than a day, the berries may spoil.

Washing

While it’s not necessary to wash berries from our farm, if you wish to, keep in mind fresh berries are fragile and should be rinsed gently and air dried to preserve their best flavor and condition.

Secondly, washing them will remove their natural bloom, the light dusty coating that protects the berries' skins from degradation, so make sure to wash them only directly before eating!

Freezing

Ripe berries can easily be frozen, although once thawed there will be changes to their texture and flavor.

To better ensure uniform texture upon thawing before freezing they should be totally dry, sorted to remove any damaged berries, put in your favorite freezer bag and frozen immediately. Berries should last up to a year in the freezer.