Wild blueberries are perennial shrubs found in the undergrowth of forests in northeastern U.S. states, and in the Atlantic provinces of Canada. Plants are propagated from seeds or cuttings. They produce underground stems or rhizomes, which periodically send up new shoots and develop roots. One original plant can thus cover an area ranging from 75 to 250 square feet, depending on the age of the plant. Originally gathered by hand, fruit is still harvested using hand rakes, although effective mechanical harvesters are being developed and improved. Various species abound, including low bush (angustifolium, nigrum and myrtilloides varieties) and highbush (corymbosum) varieties, which produce varying degrees of sweetness in the resulting fruit. For dried blueberries, the fruit is infused with a sugar solution to create a uniformly sweet and appealing product for use in baking and confectionery applications, cereals and granolas, as well as in snacks and trail mixes. Blueberries have gained increasing recognition from health professionals for their very high antioxidant properties. Studies of the anthocyanins and phytochemicals found in blueberries have shown that they provide a range of benefits, including reducing eyestrain and improving night vision, counteracting environmental carcinogens, promoting urinary tract health, fighting sun damage, and protecting against cardiovascular disease and other age related illnesses. Among 40 commercially available fruits and vegetables, blueberries ranked #1 in recent USDA studies for neutralizing free radicals. They are low in calories, low in fat and have no cholesterol, in addition to being a good source of Dietary Fiber and packed with other vitamins and minerals.
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Type:
Cherry
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Style:
Fresh
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