BLUEBERRIES
Did you know.....that early American colonists made grey paint by boiling blueberries in milk.
The blue paint used to paint woodwork in Shaker houses was made from sage blossoms, indigo and blueberry skins, mixed in milk.
If all the blueberries grown in North America in one year were spread out in a single layer, they would cover a four-lane highway that stretched from New York to Chicago.
(The Great Food Almanac)
Blueberries and huckleberries although related, are not the same. One obvious difference is that the blueberry has many soft, tiny almost unnoticeable seeds, while the huckleberry has ten larger, hard seeds. Blueberries are also more blue, while huckleberries are blackish blue or redish black. This red/black variety is also called southern cranberry.
Blueberries have been commercially cultivated only since the early 20th century, when the USDA helped develop new improved varieties.
The blueberry is the second most popular berry in the U.S., the strawberry is number one. Over 200 million pounds of blueberries are grown commercially each year.
Blueberries contain significant quantities of both antibacterial and antiviral compounds, and have a reputation in northern Europe of fighting infections.They may also help protect against heart disease.
The blueberry muffin is the official muffin of Minnesota.
The blueberry is the official berry of Nova Scotia.
The blueberry is the official state fruit of New Jersey
The North American Blueberry industry ships more than 100 metric tons of fresh blueberries each year to Iceland, and more than 500 metric tons to Japan. (2005)
North America produces nearly 90% of world blueberry production (2005).
Maine produces about 25% of all the blueberries grown in North America (1998, wild and cultivated combined) and is the largest producer of wild blueberries in the world. Wild blueberries are grown on 60,000 acres in Maine, and 99% of this wild blueberry crop is frozen. (Although some of these are later canned).
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