Blueberries - a
July treat
(or, where did I put my car keys?)
This week, we feature
fresh, sweet, delectable organic blueberries from
southwestern Michigan. In addition to their unique
flavor, blueberries provide a convenient and healthy
addition your diet.
In the Midwest, the
blueberry season really swings into gear in July (did you
know that July is National Blueberry Month?). You can
now find this organic July treat from Goodness Greeness in
your local market.
Some
background
Blueberries are one of
the few fruits that are native to North America and one of
the few truly blue fruits. They also play a basic role
in the history of our continent. Long before Europeans
came to North America, Native Americans were using
blueberries for fresh eating, for teas and for medicine.
In the 1600's, Native
Americans introduced the Pilgrims to blueberries and taught
them how to dry blueberries for use during the long winters.
During the Civil War, soldiers drank a staple juice made
from blueberries.
There are two primary
varieties of blueberries - highbush and lowbush.
Lowbush blueberries are wild and can be found in the
Northeast states. Their flavor is intense, but the
berries are very small and are generally not used for
commercial purposes (although some are used for canning).
Highbush blueberries,
with hundreds of varieties, are grown for commercial
purposes. These beautiful and tasty larger berries are
most likely the ones that you have eaten since your
childhood and they are the ones that we're featuring this
week.
Nutrition
You were wondering about
that subtitle, weren't you? What does finding your car
keys have to do with blueberries? If you've read our
recent articles on organic fruit and nutrition, you probably
know what the answer is.
Blueberries rank first in
anti-oxidant activity when compared to 40 other fruits and
vegetables. Antioxidants, which are thought to come
from the pigment that makes blueberries blue, help
neutralize harmful by-products of metabolism called free
radicals, which can lead to cancer.
Research indicates that
these antioxidants also play a key role in slowing
age-related loss of mental capacity (where did I put
those car keys?) and play a role in combating cardiovascular
disease and strokes.
There's more!
Recent research indicates that blueberries contains a
compound that can help prevent urinary tract infections.
Other research links blueberries to reduced eye fatigue and
cholesterol reduction.
Finally, in terms of
traditional nutrients, blueberries are a good source of
fiber and vitamins A and C. They are also very low in
fat and in sodium.
Recipes galore!
Organic blueberries are a
convenient and easy-to-use fruit in your cooking. For
a truly awesome list of recipes, you have to check out these
two sites:
US Highbush Blueberry Council - recipe page
Justberryrecipes.com - blueberry section
(If you need any help in
tasting your blueberry dishes, let us know and we'll stop by
- just kidding).
Contact
us
You can find
organically grown blueberries, along with a rich variety of other organic
fruits and vegetables,
from Goodness Greeness at your local market.
Email us
at
newsletter@goodnessgreeness.com if you can't find them and we'll help you
locate them. |
