Blueberries are in high-season now, so be prepared to see an abundance of them in your grocery stores and farmers’ markets. April to June is the blueberries’ prime season, and there’s no shortage of blueberries in Florida, whether they be wild or grown commercially. There are at least eight species of blueberries that grow wild along our rivers and swamps.
Ten states make up 98% of the United States production of commercial blueberries: California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington. The country’s general peak season for blueberries is mid-June to mid-August, but Florida blueberries have a very early peak in their season. Florida grows and harvests 17 million pounds of blueberries each year.
Generally, there are two classifications of blueberries: highbush and lowbush. Highbush blueberries will be the most common that you see in the grocery stores and farmers’ markets. The southern highbush blueberries that grow here in Florida are actually the earliest to ripen in the United States. Lowbush berries are sweeter and smaller blueberries that are often used for juices, jams, etc.
There is no shortage of uses for blueberries – they’re totally versatile. You can use them fresh, juiced, pureed, dried or even to infuse. Jam can be made with fresh blueberries, sugar and water. Blueberries can be made into wine by fermenting and maturing the skin and flesh of the berry. Blueberry extract can even be used to treat Alzheimer’s, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other medical conditions. Just one cup of blueberries can contain up to 25 percent of your daily vitamin C requirements.
I honestly love anything that is made with blueberries. I won’t turn them down; maybe they’ll even be my downfall one day. Pancakes, muffins, ice cream, cobbler, PIE! Even more savory items can be complemented with blueberries. Sweet and savory is just the best combination of flavors, in my opinion. If you’ve never tried a rack of lamb with blueberry sauce, make it a point to! I’ve made barbecue sauces with blueberries as well.
Did you know that a blueberry freezes in just four minutes? If you’re looking to chill your drink, try using frozen blueberries instead of watering it down with plain old ice; it’s a great-looking garnish, too! Don’t be shy to use it in your booze, either. Infuse it with vodka or gin and get creative with your cocktails.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss new ingredients, you can always feel free to chat with me! I love to work with any ingredients that I can get my hands on and have explored many traditional and innovative, alternative methods of cooking. So even if there’s something new that you would like to explore, we can go on that culinary adventure together! You can reach me at kyle@nona.media.
