All About Blueberries
- How to Pick, Prepare and Store Blueberries
- How to tell when Blueberries are Ripe
- Nutrition Facts
- Health Benefits of Blueberries
- Blueberry History
- Blueberry Varieties
- Growing Blueberries
- Links to information about Blueberries on the web
- Pictures of Bumblebees and Blueberry Blossoms
- Pictures of Blueberries
How to Pick Blueberries
Picking Highbush Blueberries is fun and easy too! The powdery milky-blue berries hang in clusters under the leaves of these plants that grow from five to seven feet tall.
Many berries are right at arms length so you don't have to do a lot of bending if you don't want to.
Take containers that can rest on the ground or tie around your waist. Hold the bush with one hand and pick the berries with the other. Pick only the ripe ones, leave the rest to ripen another day. It's so easy that you'll have a basket full in no time. After picking a basket, keep the picked berries under the plant in the shade, while filling another container.
You might even want to bring a small folding stool to sit on while picking. Bring along a hat and long sleeved shirts to protect yourself from the hot sun.
Children are encouraged to help parents pick blueberries, it is a wonderful family outing.
Wilmot Orchards reminds parents to keep their youngsters close to where they are.
Washrooms are available in the Cafe and outside in old fashioned 'privy'.
Wilmot Orchard berries are plump, luscious, sweet tasting and juicy berries. Tasting one or two is ok too...
How we keep the birds from eating all the blueberries.
Plan to start out with a treat in the Appleberries Patio Cafe,. Or take a break from picking and sit awhile and sip a cup of freshly brewed tea or coffee. Enjoy some Blueberry Organic Ice Cream made with our own blueberries.
How to tell when Blueberries are ripe
Blueberries are at their peak stage of ripeness a two or three days after turning blue.
Preparation
Fresh Ontario Highbush Blueberries are the easiest fruit to harvest, prepare, store and serve. There's no peeling, pitting, coring, cutting or stemming.
Storage and Handling
Fresh Ontario Highbush Blueberries are perishable and must be refrigerated. Store at 0°C [30°F - 32°F] with 90 95% relative humidity. This will prolong shelf life and reduce moisture loss. Fresh Ontario Highbush Blueberries should be consumed within 10 to 14 days after harvesting and will hold well in the refrigerator OR store up to 12 months in the freezer.
How to Freeze Blueberries
Blueberries are easy to freeze... Do not wash before freezing.
Place blueberries one layer deep on baking trays; freeze, then pack in plastic bags or containers, being careful to remove any air. Be sure to label and date each package and enjoy them in the cold winter months. Frozen blueberries can be used in jams, puddings, pies, muffins, pancakes and sauces.
REMEMBER, rinse and drain frozen and fresh berries JUST BEFORE using.
Enjoy fresh and frozen Ontario Highbush Blueberries all year round.
Nutrition Facts
| ENERGY (kcal) | 43 |
| PROTEIN (gm) | 0.5 |
| FAT (gm) | 0.3 |
| CARBOHYDRATE (gm) | 10.8 |
| FIBRE (gm) | 3.5 |
| CHOLESTEROL (mg) | 0 |
| IRON (mg) | 0.1 |
| SODIUM (mg) | 5 |
| CALCIUM (mg) | 5 |
| PHOSPHORUS (mg) | 8 |
| VITAMIN A (IU) | 77 |
| THIAMINE (mg | 0.04 |
| RIBOFLAVIN (mg) | 0.04 |
| VITAMIN C (mg) | 0.08 |
| NIACIN (mg) | 0.2 |
| VITAMIN B (mcg) | 64 |
| FOLACIN (mcg) | 11 |
Based on 125 ml (1/2 cup) blueberries)
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Research and Health Benefits of Blueberries
Research by the United States Dept. of Agriculture suggests that blueberries may reverse the aging process, enhance memory and failing motor skills. There is a possibility that they can actually reverse the loss of short term memory that happens as we age. They are loaded with antioxidants, in fact, they emerged as nature’s number one source of antioxidants among fresh fruit and vegetables.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Just like the cranberry, blueberries contain compounds that can prevent urinary tract infection. Blueberries are one of the highest sources of saliicylate, a natural aspirin like compound that has been shown to reduce inflammation and prevent blood coagulation. Therefore they are very good for helping the vascular system, particularly varicose veins. In Japan, blueberries are know as the “vision fruit”.
Research In Europe indicates that the European blueberry can improve night vision. Anthocyanins and proanthocyanins found err blueberries may also help stabilize the collagen matrix in bone thereby reducing osteoporosis.
Findings from ongoing research by Dr. Marva Sweeny-Nixon at the University of Prince Edward island are suggesting that compounds from blueberries may help prevent strokes and otter cardiovascular diseases.
Some quick ideas for getting the anti aging benefits Of blueberries, (one half cup of blueberries can double your anti-aging power, add them to your favourite cereal, A chicken salad or any tossed salad.
Natural Prostate Protection
Go blue, a study published in the Cancer Letter in January 2006 determined that blueberries inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells.
Blueberry History
Canadian blueberries are an historic treasure. Long prized by Aboriginal people and elevated to super food status today due to their important health benefits.
For centuries, Aboriginal people picked wild blueberries as an important source of food and medicine. They would sun-dry the blueberries and grind them into a powder to preserve them for winter months. The sun-dried berries were then mixed with ground corn meal mush ( a corn pudding) and honey. A tasty and nourishing food in winter. Natives brewed Blueberry roots to make a tea used to relax pregnant women.
Today, with new methods of preserving and processing blueberries, and their recent elevation to "super food" status, the world's appetite for blueberries is growing.
Blueberry Varieties
Berkeley
Large, light blue berry good for sauces, good presentation
Mid season
Bluejay
Small to medium size, light blue colour, all purpose berry
Early mid season
Blueray
Large, dark blue berry
Mid season
Jersey
Small to medium size, dark blue colour, all purpose berry
Late mid season
Patriot
Large, medium blue colour
Early mid season
Growing Blueberries
Blueberries are very difficult to grow. In fact only 16% of all land in Ontario is suitable for growing blueberries.
The first thing to consider is the acidity of the soil. Blueberries require soil that has a ph factor between 4.5 5.5. This is first and foremost. They also require high organic matter, low nutrients, irrigation and good air drainage. When planting, we dig a three foot hole, fill with wet peat moss and then place in a two year whip. In order to ensure that the ph level remains acidic we add a slow releasing agri sulfur throughout the season.
At present, our blueberries have no known pest problems, with the exception of the birds (mainly robins and cedar waxwings). These birds are kept under control by having predator birds (mainly hawks and falcons ) brought into monitor the patch. The predator birds are there mainly to establish territory before the other birds take over the patch. Since having the hawks and falcons we have been able to reduce the loss of fruit from 25% down to about 5%. These predator birds have been hand raised and trained. In training these birds, they are taught to come to meat, therefore they do not kill either the robins or the cedar waxwings.
Because we have no other pest problems, our blueberries are pesticide and fungicide free. They require only light fertilization and weed control. Annual pruning in the winter to remove any winter damaged wood and the addition of sawdust in the fall are the only cultural practices required once the plants are established. The addition of sawdust in the fall is to provide protection for the roots, to add nutrients and to help retain moisture.
The Highbush cultivated blueberry plant will grow to a height of five to seven feet, depending on the variety and will continue to be in production for approximately 25 years. The different varieties of blueberries allow us to extend our season up to five weeks. While each variety of blueberry has slightly different characteristics they are all sweet if allowed to remain on the bushes until fully ripe. The main difference in the varieties is the time of the season that they available.
Links to information about Blueberries on the web
US Highbush Blueberry Council
on the health benefits of blueberries.
Blueberry facts
Wikipedia on Blueberries
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