Pick Blueberries Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Blueberries

The 10th of July is celebrated annually as Pick Blueberries Day, and the day’s summertime occurrence is ideal for this activity. In the United States, blueberries are among the most prominent berries, and they are known to be rich in antioxidants. Raw blueberries are also the most flavorful and beneficial. These are sufficient reasons to leave the home and go blueberry picking!

The background of Pick Blueberries Day

Pick Blueberries Day is observed annually in July, the height of summer when these luscious berries are ripe for picking. National Blueberry Month, founded by the National American Blueberry Council and officially recognised by the United States Department of Agriculture since 2003, includes this day.

There are two distinct varieties of blueberries: lowbush or wild blueberries and highbush. The former is distinguished by its small, pea-sized fruit that grow on low-growing bushes. These latter berries are larger and develop on taller cultivated plants. Blueberries can be picked readily from semi-wild or wild bushes.

When introduced to Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands in the 1930s, highbush blueberries quickly gained popularity. Subsequently, they have expanded to other regions of Europe and are widely appreciated.

In North America, the northern highbush blueberry is the most commonly cultivated species of this fruit. The United States produces approximately 40% of the world’s supply of highbush blueberries, while Canada is the primary producer of lowbush blueberries. British Columbia, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Washington, among other regions, are well-known for their production of highbush blueberries.

Native Americans were the first to use blueberries, but they are now used in a variety of ways, including as a topping for several dishes and as a nutritious snack on their own. Their overall health benefits justify devoting an entire day to gathering blueberries.

5 FUN FACTS ABOUT BLUEBERRIES

Blueberries were used by Native Americans to alleviate persistent coughs and improve their eyesight.

Native Americans referred to them as’star berries’ because the blossom end resembles a star with five points.

Blueberries are naturally blue due to a pigment called anthocyanin, which lends them their colour.

There are approximately 30 distinct blueberry species that grow in diverse regions.

People have consumed blueberries for over 13,000 years.

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