Blueberries
Commercial varieties of blueberry are all native to North America. Blueberries require an acidic soil ph and plenty of water to be grown successfully. Blueberries are a low calorie fruit, but pack a punch when it comes to the amount of phytonutrients they contain.
They are high in antioxidants called flavonoids, particularly anthrocyanin, which is believed to play a role in maintaining good cardio-vacsular health.
FORMATS
- Whole dried
- Sugar infused
- Applejuice infused
OTHER POINTS TO NOTE
The anthocyanins found in blueberries are also found in high concentrations in other dark-coloured fruits and vegetables, including blackcurrants, blackberries, cherries, cranberries, aubergine (in the skin) and red cabbage.
COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN
- USA
- Canada
HARVEST
- June through September
VARIETIES
'Lowbush' and 'Highbush' varieties are grown commercially. The northern highbush blueberry is the most common commercial species grown in North America. The lowbush varieties produce a smaller fruit that has slightly higher levels of antioxidants.
NUTRIENT HIGHLIGHTS
- Very low in saturated fats, Cholesterol, and Sodium
- 85% of the calorific value comes from carbohydrates, of which 70% is from natural sugars
- A source of Vitamin K
- A good source of Manganese