ABOUT BLUEBERRIES



Blueberries are native to North America, through their relative the wild Huckleberry. There are many domesticated varieties of this plant. As you travel farther north, you will find the low-bush berry plants that only stand a few feet from the ground. When you get to lower latitudes in the United States, the Highbush Blueberry dominates the plantings on berry farms. This plant grows upright and achieves a height of about seven feet. The plants are planted four feet apart and will readily fill in the space between each plant. The Highbush Blueberry plant can produce fruit early in Spring and, depending on the variety, can last throughout the summer. When you travel southward in this country, you are heading into Rabbiteye Blueberry territory. These plants grow much taller than the Highbush variety and droop their canes back toward the ground. The berries are at the end of the canes. When you examine the blueberry in America, you can start eating early in the Spring and follow the season all the way through Canada and continue to enjoy fresh blueberries.


Blueberries are responsible for feeding a good deal of wild creatures. From the birds who eat our crop to the rabbits and squirrels that pick up the dropped fruit, we are constantly amazed by the number of wild critters that play in our blueberry patch throughout the season. Humming birds routinely build their tiny nests in the bushes and spend the spring buzzing from flower to flower. In Canada the berries provide larger species, like the bear, a good feed when they are trying to feast at a rapid pace before they start their winter hibernation. Besides feeding animals, these berries are also good eating for humans. Our customers have used the berries in a variety of ways and have derived great joy from plopping them raw into their mouths or eating them fresh on their morning cereal. Of course there are muffins, pies, and other delights to treat yourself to with fresh blueberries.




Most blueberry fields are harvested by machine. The largest producing areas of blueberries in the U.S. are Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Florida, and North Carolina. The blueberry industry in the Ozarks is still in its fledgling stage of development.

Blueberries store well in your freezer and your refrigerator. Here are some tips to keep the berries tasting fresh for a longer period of time. First, do not wash your blueberries when you get home. The white, waxy coating on the outside of the berry is Mother Nature's protection for keeping the berry fresh. When you get ready to use the berries, just rinse them under cold water. We do not spray any pesticides on our berries. Second, keep the berries cool on the way home. You might want to bring an ice chest to place the berries in for the drive home. We especially recommend this if you have a long drive ahead of you. The key is to get the heat out of the berries as soon as possible. If you practice these two items, your berries will stay fresher and taste better.

We hope you have enjoyed a brief glimpse of the blueberry plant, how much nutrition it packs, and an examination of the berry industry. Finally, a guide to help you maintain the freshest berries possible after picking them at Brandywine Farms. Come on out to the farm during picking season and take home a bag of blueberries to feast upon.