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North America is the planet's largest producer of blueberries and accounts for 90% of the world's crops. Both low bush (Wild) and high bush (Cultivated) grow in Nova Scotia and are available at U-Pick locations.
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They are the easiest of the berries to pick, prepare and store. There is no cutting, peeling or pitting. Blueberries should be stored in a cool refrigerator and keep for up to 2 weeks. To enjoy delicious blueberries all year, pack freshly-picked berries in plastic containers in your freezer.
The blueberry U-Picks in Nova Scotia feature both
wild (low bush) and cultivated (high bush). Both mature
during August and September.
Visit "on
the Land and in the Sea" for a list of U-Pick
operations in Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia Wild Blueberries
Wild Blueberries are one of Nova Scotia's most important
agricultural crop. They represented 32.8% of our agri-food
exports in the year 2000 ($54,317,043).
Wild Blueberries are a native berry to Nova Scotia
and in 1995 won official distinction as the provincial
berry. They were widely used by Native North Americans
who dried large quantities for the winter and early
settlers used them for foods and medicine. Lowbush
or wild blueberries have a unique flavour and grow
with minimal help from man. Research is ongoing at
the Atlantic Food and Horticulture Centre in Kentville
regarding the health promoting benefits of wild blueberries.
The European billberry, a close relative of the wild
blueberry, has long been promoted as having physiological
benefits.
Nova Scotia Cultivated Blueberries
Efforts in the 1900's resulted in the development
of the cultivated or high bush blueberry. Over the
years plant breeders and pathologists have worked
on identifying and enhancing Cultivated Blueberry
bushes. They grow to a height of 5 - 7 ft.
Blueberry Links
Whether you are interested in Wild or Cultivated Blueberries,
the following links provide more information about
Blue Magic:
Wild Blueberry
Producers Assn. of NS
Wild Blueberry
Association of North America
Blueberry
Recipes
Blue
Links
High
Bush Blueberries
U-Pick
Food Safety
Nutritional Information on Blueberries
Scientists attribute many health benefits to blueberries. They are considered one of the top antioxidant fruits. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables promotes good health and no fruit ranks higher than blueberries.
Enjoy them fresh, all by themselves, or in a fruit
salad and add them, fresh or frozen, to muffins, pie,
bread, bagels, pancakes, and the list goes on. There
is no reason to thaw the berries; add them to your
family favorite straight from the freezer. Try this
Nova Scotia favorite:
Blueberry Buckle
125 mL (1/2 cup) butter or margarine
175 mL (3/4 cup) sugar
2 eggs
500 mL (2 cups) flour
15 mL (1 Tbsp.) baking powder
2 mL (1/2 tsp.) salt
2 mL (1/2 tsp.) nutmeg
1 mL (1/4 tsp.) ground cloves
175 mL (3/4 cup) milk
500 mL (2 cups) fresh or frozen wild blueberries
Topping:
125 mL (1/2 cup) brown sugar
75 mL (1/3 cup) butter or margarine
175 mL (3/4 cup) flour
Grease and flour a 23 cm (9 inch) square cake pan.
Cream butter with sugar; add eggs, beat well. Sift
flour with baking powder and spices. Add to creamed
mixture alternately with milk. Gently fold in blueberries;
pour into cake pan.
For the topping, blend ingredients until they resemble
coarse bread crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over batter.
Bake at 190°C (375°F) for 60 minutes or
until the centre of the cake is cooked.
Yield: 6-8 servings
For more information, contact:
Wild Blueberry Producers Association of Nova Scotia
PO Box 119, Debert, Nova Scotia
B0M 1G0
Phone: (902) 662-3306
Fax: (902) 662-3284
Email: wbpans@auracom.com
Web site:
www.nswildblueberries.com
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