Interesting Blueberry Facts

History of Blueberries:

  • The Blueberry is one of the few fruits that are native to North America (along with cranberries and concord grapes).
  • Blueberries are sometimes mistakenly called “huckleberries.”
  • The naturally-sweet wild berry is thought to have been a popular native fruit, since sugar was scarce and very expensive in the early years of North America; therefore, blueberries played an important role in the diets of Native Americans.  Interestingly, soldiers in the Civil War regularly drank a blueberry beverage because of its health benefits.
  • In the past, blueberries were used for medicinal purposes along with the leaves and roots, and were used to treat coughs, and was said to be good for the blood.

Blueberry Production

  • Blueberry harvest starts in Florida in the early Spring and ends in British Columbia Canada in October and sometimes later, so people can enjoy fresh blueberries all year round.
  • 12,000 acres of farmland in British Columbia are devoted to growing blueberries.
  • British Columbia is the second largest producer of cultivated blueberries in the world, following Michigan. (BC Highbush Blueberry Industry Fact Sheet, PDF)
  • North America is the world’s leading blueberry producer, currently accounting for nearly 90 percent of world production.
  • The North American Industry ships more than 100 metric tons of fresh blueberries each year to Iceland, and more than 500 metric tons to Japan.
  • If all the blueberries grown in North America in one year were spread out in a single layer, they would cover a four-lane highway stretching from New York to Chicago.
  • The total production of wild blueberries in North America averages over 120 million pounds annually. Nova Scotia's average annual production is 30,000,000 pounds.
  • The wild blueberry is Maine's native berry - 60,000 acres of blueberries grow naturally in the state, which is equivalent to about 45 million pounds.
  • The majority of wild blueberries used in TrueBlue are sourced from Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.

Cooking with Blueberries

  • Blueberries can be used to make sauces, baked goods, drinks, as well as desserts.
  • Blueberries may change color when cooked. Acids, such as lemon juice and vinegar, cause the blue pigment in the berries to turn reddish.
  • Make sure to integrate the skins of the blueberry in your cooking to benefit from all of the anthocyanin in the pigments.
  • Blueberries also contain a yellow pigment, which in an alkaline environment, such as a batter with too much baking soda, may give it a greenish-blue color.

Other Interesting Facts

  • In the US, July is National Blueberry Month.  In British Columbia, August is Blueberry Month as proclaimed by the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia.
  • Wild blueberries tend to contain more brain-saving bioflavonoids than the domestic ones.
  • In Sweden, dried blueberries are used to treat childhood diarrhea.  This use is attributed to anthocyanosides, a natural substance found in blueberries which is believed to be lethal to E.Coli. (www.atlanticblueberry.com/main_nut_health.html)
  • On January 12, 2004, Gov. James E. McGreevey of New Jersey signed a bill into law naming the blueberry the Garden State’s official fruit.
  • Blueberry Jelly Bellies were created especially for Ronald Reagan.