-
Native to the Americas, the U.S. is the world’s largest producer of
blueberries. In 2012, the U.S. harvested total: 564.4 million pounds of
cultivated and wild blueberries.
-
North America produces nearly 90% of world blueberry production.
-
Blueberries are the second most important commercial berry crop in the United
States, behind only Strawberries.
-
Maine is the largest producer of blueberries.
-
Native Americans called blueberries "Star berries", as the blossom end has
five points, like a star.
-
European settlers brought with them a recipe for "Bilberry Muffins". Bilberries
were not to be found in the New World. Wild blueberries, native to the Americas,
were both plentiful and delicious. The wild blueberries were substituted
for Bilberries, and the Blueberry Muffin recipe was created.
-
Early American colonists made grey paint by boiling blueberries in milk.
-
Blueberries were used for paints and dyes.
-
Blueberries have the highest antioxidant of all fruits and vegetables.
-
Native Americans held blueberries in high esteem, They believed the "Great
Spirit" created blueberries to feed their hungry children during famine.
-
Blueberry juice has medicinal value for Native Americans. Among other things,
it was used to treat persistent coughs and to improve eyesight.
-
Blueberries have many health benefits. They improve memory and brain function.
They are believed to help combat Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. It
can help to avoid cancers, including colon, liver, ovarian, and breast cancer.
-
American poet, Robert Frost, loved blueberries. He wrote a poem about them,
simply called "Blueberries."
-
July is National Blueberry Month.
-
Blueberry muffins are the official state muffin of Minnesota.
-
Blueberries are official state fruit of New Jersey.
-
There is only about 80 calories in a cup of blueberries. But, it is high
in fiber.
-
Freezing blueberries is a cinch. Pick them, place them in a sealable freezer
bag and stick them in the freezer. They thaw in minutes.
