I have several summertime activities that I just love to do and one of those is going to pick blueberries. I will often go several times with a goal to pick at lease 4 gallons of blueberries to put up into the freezer. You probably wonder what I do with all of them and you know what? that is a good question!
First of all, we love blueberries! They freeze well and four gallons will last us most of the year. Great for cooking, smoothies and incredible on cereal!
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| The darker berries that appear to have a powder coating are really sweet & ripe |
I go to a local "U-Pick" farmer to pick my berries. Locally grown blueberries and are farm to the table fresh! Locally grown foods, eaten over a period of time have much of the same health benefits as eating locally harvested honey. These locally grown foods would include vegetables, fruit and meats. I will cover those benefits more at a later time in another blog post.
Blueberries are also easy to grow yourself! And two - three mature bushes should provide all the berries needed for your family and maybe, even your neighbors. Birds do find them tasty as well. So you will need to cover them with netting or an old lace tablecloth as they ripen.
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| Blueberries Boost Brain Power! |
Health Benefits of Blueberries
Not only are blueberries incredibly delicious, but they are also one of nature's top super foods. The benefits of eating blueberries is amazing! Blueberries combat aging, boost the brain, fights cancer, supports digestion, promotes heart health, benefits the skin, aids in weight loss, maintains healthy bones, lowers blood pressure (by widening the arteries) & reduces LDL cholesterol. All this packed in a 1/2 inch berry!
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| One of the Highest Ranking Foods of Nutrients Per Calories |
Packed full of nutrients, blueberries contain iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, manganese, zinc, copper, folate, beta-carotene, folate, choline, Vitamin A & Vitamin E.
1 Cup of berries contains:
84 - calories
0 - cholestrerol
1.1g - protein
0.49g - fat
21g - carbohydrates
3.6g - dietary fiber (14% of the daily requirement)
It also contains high levels of phenolic compounds: quercetin, kaempferol, myricentin & chlorogenic acid - antioxidants.
My friend, Kim, who is my blueberry picking buddy
Picking Blueberries
It is always fun to go with a friend or family. Children really love blueberry picking. They pick one and put it in the bucket, they pick one and eat it and it is so fun to watch! In fact, I eat quite a few when I pick as well. 😂 I always like to "test the bush" by sampling one berry just to make sure that bush produces a good sweet berry. Flavor does vary from bush to bush.
Blueberry season usually runs from the last week in June until the first or second week in August. Depending on your location and altitude. It is best to go early in the morning, before it gets too hot or early evening, as the sun is going down and it is getting cooler. We live in the deep south and it can be 90 degrees Fahrenheit by 9:30 or 10:00 am in July. Our evenings are sometimes very warm as well. I prefer the early mornings. You will also need comfortable, closed toed shoes and plenty of water. You can dehydrate quickly if it is a warm morning or evening.
You can find "U-Pick" farms through Google or any search engine that you use or by going to your local Craigslist. The farmers are nice, friendly and happy to have you come. They may also have other "U-Pick" produce for you as well. The farmer I go to even has honey. I love locally produced honey! Most of the farmers have set hours that they are open for you to come and pick. So be sure to contact them to see when they are "open".
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| One plastic grocery bag will hold 1 gallon of fresh picked berries |
We go through 4-6 gallons of berries a year. I love making muffins, smoothies, pies, waffles and breads with the muffins that I pick. We will also eat the berries straight out of the freezer (wash first) and we enjoy them on cereal or oatmeal. They are so good picked fresh. Even when you have stored them in the freezer for a few months. The flavor is really different from store bought. I really think it is because you are enjoying the work of your hands and you have the opportunity of picking the berries at their peak. Often times the berries you get at the store have been picked 1-2 weeks before making it to the produce shelf.
Freezing Your Fresh Picked Blueberries
After picking your blueberries it is important to put them up right away. They will tend to sweat and that will enable bacteria and fungi to set up causing the berries to ruin. You will want to have some freezer bags handy. Be sure to label them and include the date.
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| Be sure to label your bags with item & date |
It is not necessary to wash the blueberries before freezing. In fact, if you wash them, it will take the natural protective coating off and when you freeze them, the skin will become tough and the flavor of the berries will not be as good.
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| Sweet Delicious Blueberries |
Using a large spoon, gently scoop the berries and fill the bag. Best to leave a little room at the top so that the bags will store flatter as you stack them in the freezer. (See bottom photo.)
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| Start scooping gently with a large spoon |
Blueberries freeze so well. You can take from the bag what you need, reseal the bag and return to the freezer and the remaining berries will be fine. Be sure to wash the berries before eating or using in cooking, smoothies or salads.
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| 2 gallons will make 6 pints and 4 quarts of delicious, sweet berries that will last all year! |
The berries will taste best the first 6-9 months after freezing. After 9 months they will still be great for cooking or smoothies. I have discovered a bag that got lost in the freezer that was put up a couple of years before. The berries were fine for cooking.
Blueberries are one of nature's finest foods. Packed with nutrients, antioxidants, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol. They freeze well so that you and your family can enjoy their wonderful sweet flavor and health benefits all year long.
And blueberries are one of those...
...Little Things in Life
Hugs,
Missy!
