Saturday, August 11, 2012

BLUEBERRIES


BLUEBERRIES

Canadian Blueberries
Part One of a two part series.
Canadian  blueberries are of two types- The  “lowbush blueberries,” also known as wild blueberries and The Highbush blueberries”.
WILD BLUEBERRIES
A True Taste of Nature
The sunny days of late summer and early autumn are harvest time for Canada's blueberry crop. 

PART ONE -  LOWBUSH BLUEBERRIES

Canada is the world's largest producer of “lowbush blueberries,”  and is the world's second-largest producer and exporter of these delectable berries, after the United States.
In British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces, workers hand-pick the sweetest fruits for the table market, while mechanical pickers scoop up the berries destined for freezing and processing.

These small blue globes have always been prized, and for centuries were a special favourite among Canada's First Nations  (natives). 
They had learned how to smoke the wild fruit for winter use, mix it with honey and cornmeal to make blueberry pudding, and make a blueberry syrup to cure coughs. 

Nowadays, Canada's making them unique—no other Canadian fruit shares this distinction.
Most are grown commercially in Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. They are native to Eastern North America and grow best on treeless land or on land that has been burned over
Wild blueberries are unusual because growers do not plant them, but instead manage wild stands that spread naturally by means of underground runners
FIELD OF WILD BLUEBERRIES
Since managed wild blueberry fields can have several distinct runner systems, the berries are often not uniform in appearance—but the delectable taste is always the same. They ares mostly destined for processing and freezing.

EXCELLENT HEALTH BENEFITS
Diets supplemented with wild blueberry juice may affect memory  and learning in older adults, while reducing blood sugar and symptoms of depression.

Wild blueberries has a higher anthocyanin content.  Anthocyanin is the red, blue or purple color in a fruit/ veggie, depending on the pH. It is water soluble.
Anthocyanins have been shown to act as a "sunscreen", protecting cells from high-light damage by absorbing blue-green and UV light, thereby protecting the tissues from   (photoinhibition), or high-light stress.

This may be seen on  the color of autumn leaves and  of plant shoots , like the reddish hue of rose shoots.
Anthocyanins also act as powerful antioxidants.

Links- wiki-anthocyanin, also government websites- here  and here
BEAR EATING  WILD BLUEBERRIES
WILD BLUEBERRY SCONES AND JAM

58 comments:

  1. You can't go wrong with blueberries!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wan, i always start my morning with fresh blueberries or fresh turkey apricot...easy to eat while driving to work

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi rina, sometimes there no fresh ones..may be all sold

      Delete
  3. Blueberries are my favorite fruit.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love blueberries but seems not able to get the nice ones over here, what the price is also on the high side. Certainly makes a great ingredient to be added into pies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi nava, i'd rather eat the fresh ones than the processed

      Delete
  5. Those photos make me so hungry and I haven’t stopped for dinner yet! Wonderful post!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lovely info..will surely include blueberries in our diet..Great post!!

    Ongoing Events of EP Series @ Spicy Aroma

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great information,love this fruit,have a great weekend:)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love berries. They're good for your skin and eyes. Thank you for sharing information. It's good to learn about variety of blueberries.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi nash, i especially like the packed anthocyanins in wild blueberries..just look at the color of their leaves/

      Delete
  9. guess what, my daughter can finish a whole tub of blueberries at a go.. how's your Raya preparation, Wan? Must be excited eh, less than a week to go!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi dr jehanne- are you coming back to kl this raya- hope you can.

      Delete
  10. Hi Wan, wow! Love this posting. Yes, I love these blueberries and often going fishing up North will get to pluck them fresh in the wild. Only thing is where there are berries, there are bears, and arguing or tangling with a full grown black bear is not an option.

    Canada's blueberry, strawberry etc jams are really good too.....and I have them on toast for breakfast. Love the pics......
    Always learning something new coming here.....
    Taking this opportunity to wish you selamat hari raya, have fun......and keep a song in your heart.
    Best regards.
    Lee.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi lee,i love the fresh ones most, but cant get to buy over here all the time- may be sold out fast. also yummy with ice cream. those bears sure are scary. ha ha,thanks for the raya wish. have a nice day

      Delete
  11. Blueberries, mmm ...super rich in antioxidants!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi jasna, you seem to use a lot of blueberries too. have a nice day

      Delete
  12. I actually met someone the other day (at my dinner table) who did not like blueberries, I was dazed with unbelief, at the idea of not liking blueberries!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Jan, i have never met anyone who does not like blueberries. its a great fruit. have a nice day

      Delete
  13. That is true, British Columbia has the perfect weather for blue berries. Who knows better than me? I live in Richmond and there are many blue berry farms, I bought a big box few days ago and made blue berry cake.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi balvinder, i guess as much you are staying somewhere in that continent- but never thought its Richmond.. lucky you have lots of fresh supplies. have a nice day

      Delete
  14. Have heard so much abt this beautiful fruit. Wish I can taste some.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hope you can too one day.. have a nice day archana, glad you came by

      Delete
  15. very informative post.. Advance Eid wishes... Have a nice day..

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love blueberry too. Wishing you Selamat Hari Raya Wan!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi dear, glad you like blueberry, thanks for the Raya wish

      Delete
  17. Wan! Selamat Hari Raya to you! Enjoy your Raya!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great information! Advanced Eid greeting to you, Wan!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Wan, here's wishing you and all at home the very best of hari raya.
    Selamat hari raya. And happy holidays.
    Best wishes.
    Lee.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. thank you Lee for your "Raya" wishes. Have a nice day

      Delete
  20. Me encantan son muy hermoso y sus beneficios son realmente importantes,lindo post,abrazos hugs,hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Selamat Hari Raya to you and everyone at home Maznah. Have a great time with you loved one.

    ReplyDelete
  22. hello!,I really like your writing so so much! proportion we keep in touch extra approximately your post on AOL?
    I need an expert on this house to unravel my problem.
    Maybe that's you! Having a look ahead to look you.
    My page ... cool articles about health

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow.. I've never seen wild blueberries before. I wouldn't know the first photo was blueberries if I saw it in a field somewhere. And they look very nice.. :)
    Anyway, wishing you Selamat Hari Raya! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you bella for your sweet comments, selamat hari raya to you too-

      Delete