We Specialize in
Wild Blueberries

Pick or buy fresh wild blueberries at our farm.

Canada's Food Guide recommends 5 to 10 servings of fruit and vegetables each day. Eating 1/2 cup of blueberries equals one serving. To achieve the health benefits of blueberries choose one serving of blueberries per day as often as possible. Either fresh or frozen berries can be used.

BLUEBERRIES... FOR YOUR HEALTH!

by Raymonde Savoie, Plant Science Technician

In 1616, Samuel de Champlain wrote, “Without them we might have starved to death.” He was referring to blueberries and raspberries, plentiful along the shores of the Ottawa River and Lake Huron. As he explained, “We also found that in season the riverbanks were thick with berries of all sorts, including raspberries and blueberries (a small berry but very good to eat).” Today, we may not have to ward off starvation when we enjoy this 'very good' fruit native to Ontario, but we certainly will benefit from its health-enhancing properties.

The sweet Lowbush Blueberry, the bilberry, and the Highbush Blueberry, have recently been placed in the health food spotlight with the publication of studies reported in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. These studies compared 40 fruits, vegetables, and juices for their antioxidant properties. The mighty Blueberry came out in the rating as Number 1. The following list shows the top ten with their antioxidant units per 100 grams.

Blueberries 2400
Blackberries 2036
Kale 1770
Strawberries 1540
Spinach 1260
Raspberries 1220
Brussels Sprouts 980
Plums 949
Alfalfa Sprouts 930
Broccoli 890

Besides being a delightful treat to our tastebuds, it is wonderful news to learn that this dark blue fruit growing here in Ontario is also very good for us healthwise. Blueberries are considered a good source of Vitamin C and dietary fibre. Studies have shown that, as well as the bog cranberry, they contain components that inhibit bacteria in the urinary tract, bladder and kidney, thus reducing and even preventing infections. This suggests that eating blueberries could be a convenient alternative to antibiotic treatments.

The blueberry was highly prized as a food source and medicine to the native tribes of North America. It was used to treat ulcers, scurvy, diarrhea, excema, and other skin diseases, sore mouth, enteritis, dysentery, diabetes and for lowering blood sugar count. It was also given to purify the blood and to treat kidney and bladder infections. The whole plant was used for these treatments. For winter food, the berries were dried in the sun and thereafter were baked with cakes, breads, and 'vegetal pemmican', which could be kept up to two years.

Modern day scientific researchers now hail this small fruit as having the most 'antioxidant power' as compared to other fruits and vegetables with which we are familiar. The list of potential health benefits goes on as we look at the positive effects of antioxidants on the human body: preventing cancer, reducing the risk of heart disease, slowing down the aging process, and improving the memory and motor skills, controlling diabetes and blood sugar levels. Antioxidants are natural compounds found in fruits and vegetables that neutralize the free radical production that can destroy our body's cell structures. In the blueberry, the important antioxidants producing all these benefits are anthocyanins, plant chemicals that give the berries their dark blue colour. Fully ripe berries provide the highest levels of these compounds.

For a complete list of nutrients, see the Nutritional Guide.

Here in Ontario, growers provide us with this delicious and nutritious crop in July and August, with rows and rows of blue sweetness in their fields. Wild blueberries from Northern Ontario are sold at selected fresh produce outlets. Frozen berries are imported from Eastern Canada. Now is the time to indulge in this favourite nutritious treat, whether in supermarkets, roadside stands, farmers' markets, or fresh from the field. The joys of summer are certainly enhanced with the addition of blueberries on the menu. Now that we know how good they are for us, we can enjoy them even more—as if we need an excuse. Happy picking—for your health!

For additional information concerning the health benefits of wild blueberries visit the links provided by the Nova Scotia Agricultural College at http://nsac.ca/wildblue/educational/health.asp