Picking Blueberries Day
National Blueberries Day: Picking the Blues on June 10
Let’s be honest: few if any celebrate the slew of more obscure national holidays (Curmudgeons Day and Chocolate Covered Cherry Day come to mind). Many of them are wacky, impractical, or plain bizarre. They just don’t inspire the same level of excitement and commitment like Christmas does. However, one holiday that you can easily celebrate without pulling a few limbs is fast approaching – Picking Blueberries Day.
Apple picking is a favorite pastime of many, marking an occasion of festivity, but apples don’t start to ripen until the fall. If you find yourself longing for a bucolic change of scenery, blueberry picking is a fun alternative. These sweet-smelling berries are delicious, nutritionally dense, and packed with anthocyanins. Compared to forty other fruits and vegetables, blueberries top the ranks in terms of antioxidant health benefits.
Fun fact: the largest blueberry, weighing in at 20.4 grams, was grown at Costa Farm in New South Wales, Australia. Here’s a guide on how you can celebrate Blueberry Day by plucking the juiciest berries. Who knows, maybe you’ll discover a freakishly large one in your midst.
Guide to Blueberry Picking
Native to North America, blueberries have been in cultivation for thousands of years – tracing their origin to the first peoples, who settled in the area over 13,000 years ago. The domesticated, or highbush berry is the variety that is commercially grown; the wild version is smaller and grows far less abundantly. Thriving on the acidic soil that is typical of New England, the lowbush ‘wild’ blueberries of Maine are a delicacy bursting with flavor, but for those that aren’t local to the area, they can pay a visit to nearby blueberry farms. It’s not the same, admittedly, but it’s a good enough substitute.
- Planning out the Day
Make sure to pack for the day: bring plenty of water, a Tupperware container (to carry the berries), cash, and a wide brim hat. Protective eyewear, sunscreen, and a large waterproof tote are also recommended. Some U-Pick farms are cash only, and cash on handy also helps with other minute transactions. Another thing to check is the weather for any unfavorable weather indications – scorching sun or rain can quickly make the entire day unbearable. Avoid the blazing sun by arriving earlier in the day, ensuring ample time to select from a fresh crop before they are depleted.
- Selecting the Best Berries
Like with apples, low-hanging fruit isn’t always the best. The best berries can be either eye-level or way down low. For blueberries, you’re fine going by sight and intuition – the best berries are firm to the touch and unblemished, with a uniform, deep indigo color. The silvery coating commonly found on blueberries, called bloom, is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about. Berries with a reddish tint aren’t fully ripe.
- Transporting the Berries
A Tupperware container or berry basket suffices for berry picking, but for ease of picking, slip on a hands-free berry basket. If you’re interested in making berry jam, ask the farm if there’s any berries slightly past their prime that they’re willing to sell at a discount (this doesn’t affect the flavor).
- Storing the Berries
One bad berry can ruin the entire bunch. Don’t wash the berries until you plan to eat them, as water makes them highly perishable. Without washing, blueberries can last up to 10 – 14 days in the refrigerator. To extend their shelf life and prevent spoilage, freeze them in sheets in a Ziploc bag and place in the refrigerator. Using this method, berries can be kept fresh for months.
Tasty Blueberry Recipes
The tangy taste of fresh blueberries is sure to instigate your sweet tooth. The wealth of mouth-watering recipes that can be derived from blueberries and its gem-like cousins is limitless. Add blueberries to yogurt, granola, and cereal for a nutritious, healthy breakfast or into desserts for a refreshing summer treat. Although intended for salads, this elegant serving bowl, table to garden personified, can accommodate everything from cookies to pasta.
- Easy Blueberry Crumble: This delectable recipe, entailing only 10 minutes of prep time, is suited for those that habitually burn the oven, a fear that is quelled with these easy-to-follow instructions. Although it calls for fresh blueberries, frozen blueberries can also work.
- Soft Blueberry Cookies: Make good use of your frozen blueberries with these sugary, chewy cookies, naturally dyed a gorgeous shade of seafaring blue, bringing to mind the nostalgia of days spent by the seashore. These cookies are egg-free, gluten-free, and stay soft for days.
- Lemon Blueberry Muffins: This highly-rated muffin recipe combines two classic duos – lemon and blueberry – into an astonishingly delicious confection that’s sure to shake up your breakfast routine. Sugary batter, whipped into a crusty topping, breaks away to a fluffy interior loaded with blueberries.
- Blueberry Tahini Smoothie: Those trending towards the health-conscious side of things can try their hand at this summery smoothie. It’s a relaxing drink to head out with, and it’s versatile enough that you can swap out things (like tahini for cashew butter) without compromising on taste. Add a sprinkle of lemon juice, cinnamon, or raw vanilla bean to inject a layer of flavor into a simple drink.
Growing Your Own Blueberry Bushes
Mark your calendars for another upcoming occasion – fall is the ideal time to grow blueberries. Growing blueberries can seem formidable to novices, but there are a few mistakes that you can easily avoid to significantly improve your chances of a fruitful harvest. Many of the problems associated with stunted fruit and poor yields, such as poor drainage or subpar soil, can be amended with the use of raised garden beds.
Another mistake gardeners make is only planting one blueberry bush. Many blueberry cultivars are not self-pollinating and require at least two different varieties to pollinate, which is why many gardeners find this twin berry pack advantageous. Blueberries openly thrive in acidic strains of soil, but for gardeners whose soil is lacking, they can plant in raised beds and use an acidic soil mix.
