Blueberries
Everyone loves blueberries!
Blueberries are one of the heartier berries around, with a growing season that some years can extend into September, depending on the weather. So plan to visit the farm between July 1 and Labor Day at least a few times to stock up on nature's convenience food!
How to pick blueberries
- Ripe blueberries are plump, deeply colored and pleasantly tinged with a powdery complexion.
- Pick all of the ripe blueberries on your assigned bush. Large or small, every blue berry is ripe and ready to eat.
- Green berries will not ripen after picking. Ripe berries should give easily from the bush.
- Look under the leaves and within the branches of the blueberry bush to find tons of berries ripe for the picking.
Take 'em home
- Remember, blueberries are perishable and need to be handled gently.
Protect the berries from sunlight...particularly in your car. - Take the berries straight home...don't leave them in a hot car.
Storing your blueberries... - Blueberries are probably the easiest fruit to prepare and serve. There’s no peeling, pitting, coring or cutting.
- Fresh blueberries are perishable and should be refrigerated. They should be consumed within 10-14 days after harvesting. They should be rinsed and drained just before serving. Mother Nature has provided the blueberry with a special protective coating; it's important not to wash it off until just ready to use.
A healthy treat
- Blueberries are a nutritional giant, containing iron, vitamins A and C, fiber, carotenoids, antioxidants, and anthocyanosides.
- Regular consumption of blueberries may reduce various signs of aging.
- Blueberries are good for the eyes. They have been shown to improve night vision and may also protect against cataracts and glaucoma.
- Folk medicine relies that blueberries are good for treating stomach ailments!
Freezing Blueberries
- Do not wash blueberries before freezing.
- For loose packed berries, spread them in a shallow roasting pan or cookie sheet and place in freezer until hard, approximately 1 hour. Transfer to freezer in either bags or containers; store at 0 degrees or lower.
- Freezer life is one year.
- The secret of success in freezing blueberries is to have berries completely dry before freezing.
Ten Quick Ways with Blueberries
- Stir into plain or vanilla yogurt.
- Alternate layers of blueberries and vanilla pudding to make a parfait.
- Sprinkle over hot or cold cereal.
- Spoon over ice cream.
- Mix with cottage cheese.
- Add to fruit salad.
- Fold into lightly sweetened whipped cream or whipped topping.
- Fill an ice cream cone half full with blueberries, top with vanilla or blueberry swirl ice cream.
- Serve in cantaloupe half; top with a dollop of yogurt.
- Eat out of hand, they're better than candy!
Wholesale Information
