Happy National Blueberry Day and Month 🙂 After my first detailed post on blueberries last year, I thought I should post an update, since we’ve just come back from our blueberry picking trip to Eenigenburg’s Blueberries.
With a history that goes back 80 years, Eenigenburg’s Blueberries is one of the most popular destinations for blueberry fans across Chicagoland and NW Indiana looking to “create family memories and traditions for generations,” as per their motto. They grow 13 varieties of blueberries, generally available between July 5th and August 10th each year. This year however, the harvesting started earlier than usual, and we were able to visit this past weekend, right before National Blueberry Day, on July 8.
Here are some interesting facts about blueberries, courtesy of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council: 
- Blueberries are native to North America, and have been part of life here for 13,000 years.
- Elizabeth White and Frederick Coville, a USDA botanist, produced the first crop of cultivated blueberries in 1916.
- Nearly 1 billion pounds of blueberries are grown in North America each year.
- In the U.S., blueberries are grown commercially by farmers in 26 states.
- Highbush blueberry bushes can grow up to 12 feet tall, but most peak at about 6 feet. They can live up to 30 or even 50 years!
- The blueberry emoji made its debut on keyboards worldwide in 2020!
The first nationwide celebration of blueberries was in 1974, when the US Senate and House of Representatives passed a joint resolution recognizing July as “Blueberry Month.”Another joint resolution was passed by Congress in 2020, recognizing “the importance of the blueberry industry to the United States” (blueberry.org)
This month, consumers are invited to join the festivities by incorporating more blueberries into their meals, visiting local farms for fresh picks, and exploring new blueberry recipes, with the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council having a dedicated section on their website for this purpose.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the various ways in which blueberries can be eaten – fresh, frozen, canned, freeze-dried, powdered, liquefied, purĂ©ed – and discovering the delicious recipe suggestions and the insightful nutritional information. On the website you can also find references to a study that explores blueberries’ positive effects in men with type 2 diabetes – a fascinating research and read involving freeze-dried blueberries.
There are many reliable resources out there which cover blueberries’ impressive health-related benefits. I recommend the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council website and the healthline.com article “10 Proven Health Benefits of Blueberries.”
With blueberries safely stored in the fridge for the time being, the brainstorming for potential recipes has begun! The first treat I made was super easy, a blueberry and yogurt parfait topped with sour cherry sauce and Alter Eco Cashew Butter Organic Granola (a new, super delicious family favorite). So scrumptious, quick, and healthy!
You are welcome to check out my 2023 post, which highlights several suggested uses of blueberries, in salads, tarts, homemade no-churn ice cream, semolina pudding, carrot & ricotta rolls, banana bread French toast, and cookies.
What are you making with blueberries this summer? Let me know in the comments 🙂
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