When Are Blueberries In Season: The optimum time to pick blueberries in your area depends on where you live. Or where to find them at your local farmer’s market or grocery shop, if you prefer to buy them that way. In recent years, the phrase “superfood” has become an important part of our language. People are striving to eat foods high in nutrition in the hope of warding against cancer and other debilitating ailments.
Blueberries are a standout among these healthy choices. Hence, it’s hardly surprising that they’re popping up all over the place these days. Most store fruits are sourced from just a few states, including perhaps your own. However, I’ve noticed an increase in the number of blueberries from all over the country showing up in my local supermarket. No other produce item in the supermarket’s produce section is sourced from so many locations. What better way to get acquainted with these states than by taking a closer look at their agriculture?
It’s up to you if you want to buy them or go out and choose them yourself. I’ll also mention wild blueberries at the end. The flavor, sweetness, and antioxidant levels of these berries may be lower, but their flavor and sweetness make up for it. It piqued my interest to learn that someone was cultivating and preserving natural species. The average harvest time is listed in the table below (each year can be slightly different). Take advantage of your state’s seasonal buying opportunities. Blueberries are in season in many areas, and I’d like to share some of my favorites with you.
LOUISIANA & MISSISSIPPI UNITED
Both of these states have a crop to offer after Georgia’s crop is harvested. In Franklinton, Louisiana, the Miss-Lou Blueberry Growers Cooperative brings together fields from both states. In 1984, it was founded. Please see http://www.extension.org/pages/29236/early-season-blueberry-types for a list of varieties produced in Mississippi: The first blueberries of the year will arrive in Florida, followed by those from other southern states and those from California, on a national scale. Then comes Texas, followed by a big harvest from New Jersey. It’s time for Michigan, Maine, and other northern states to wrap things up.
FLORIDA: The fact that Florida has the year’s first major blueberry production gives the state a significant competitive advantage. About six to eight weeks of the year are spent in Florida.
GEORGIA: Around the beginning of May, they are expected to take the place of Florida-grown berries in grocery shops. Georgia’s most profitable crop is blueberries, in case you didn’t know. More money has been made on blueberries than peaches in the state known as the Peach State.
North Carolina: After the Georgia harvest, you’ll start seeing blueberries cultivated in North Carolina. Commercial production of blueberries began in the 1930s when it was discovered that sections of North Carolina had the acidic soil necessary for their growth. North Carolina is home to the state’s native blueberries. North Carolina mountain blueberries are raised at Hop’n Blueberry Farm in Black Mountain, NC. Their altitude is 2700 feet, however, they are cultivating a kind called “Columbine” that generally thrives at an altitude of 4500 feet or more.
CALIFORNIA: In May and June, the majority of California blueberries are available for purchase. Family Tree Farms, based in Reedley, California, is one example of a grower that is able to harvest a crop early. You can see how they grow their berries in the video on the following page.
TEXAS: The first Texas-grown blueberries will be available for purchase in June. Early in June, Nacogdoches, Texas, hosts the Texas Blueberry Festival, which has been going on for over two decades.
When Are Blueberries In Season
RHODE ISLAND: New Jersey-grown berries take over the market in the middle of June. Because of this, I’m confident that my Michigan berries will soon be joining the ranks of those from Jersey.
MICHIGAN: Now I’m back in my own backyard. This time of year, I can’t get enough of blueberries. High bush variety berries are produced in the most abundance in Michigan, which is the nation’s leading producer of them. In the southwest region of the Lower Peninsula, there are numerous blueberry farms, so u-pickers have a wide variety of locations to choose from.
BLUEBERRIES IN THE WILD FROM MAINE
Lowbush blueberries are mostly grown in Maine, which is the nation’s largest producer. All blueberries were originally lowbush, and the higher-bush types were developed later. Despite this, wild blueberries and low bush kinds of blueberries are considered to have the best flavor in the United States. Peace & Plenty Farm is a Maine wild blueberry farm. The High Peaks region of western Maine is home to a wild blueberry farm that uses only organic methods. They use native pollinators and rotate their fields every three years. The best time of year to create a syrup with blueberries is when they’re in season.
The Recipe for BLUEBERRY SYRUP
It’s ideal for sprinkling on pancakes. I use the Ergo Spout to dispense the syrup. Blueberries, water, corn starch, and sugar are all you need to make this syrup. It’s a simple recipe. Adding ground cardamom and fresh lemon zest is a favorite of mine. If my blueberries are particularly sweet, I’ll add a squeeze of lemon juice. Blueberries are not only delicious, but they are also the most antioxidant-rich of all fruits and vegetables. Regardless of whether you produce your own or travel to a U-Pick, the subject of when and how to harvest the blueberries is crucial. Blueberry Bushes: When to Pick Them.
When Is the Best Time to Pick Blueberries?
USDA hardiness zones 3-7 are ideal for growing blueberries. It is not clear how long ago the blueberries we eat today were originated. Before 1900, the berry was only used by Native Americans in North America, and they could only find it in the wild. Highbush, lowbush, and hybrid half-high blueberries are the three varieties of blueberry. Is there a specific time to harvest blueberry bushes? However, even if picking blueberries is a simple task, it is important to remember a few important points. First and foremost, take your time when picking the fruit. You’ll know they’re ready to eat when they’re blue.
Blueberry Harvesting Instructions Picking blueberries doesn’t require any special skills or knowledge. Blueberries are one of the simplest fruits to prepare and serve, if not the simplest. No peeling, pitting, core-ing, or cutting is required. They freeze, store, or dry for long-term storage if they are not consumed quickly in the form of a dessert or a snack. You should only pick ripe blueberries that are completely blue around the berry; white and green blueberries do not ripen after picking.
If the berries have any hint of red, they are not yet ripe, but if stored at room temperature, they can ripen more. You should, however, only pick ripe gray-blue berries, as these are the most flavorful. As they mature, the berries get sweeter and sweeter as they remain on the bush. After collecting the blueberries, you can either eat them right away or store them in the freezer for later. As far as the health benefits of berries go, you can’t go wrong with a day spent at the farm picking them.
