For History Buffs, Blueberries Have a Past

American farms today produce a vast range of fruit, but only three are North American natives. Any guesses?

Blueberries make the list, of course. We know from history books that Native Americans introduced the Pilgrims to blueberries, one of the foods that helped them survive their first winter. Native Americans revered these nutritious bush berries and knew how to sun-dry them for long keeping. They made a simple pudding with blueberries and cracked corn; added the dried berries to stews; and rubbed the crushed dried berries on meat to preserve it. And you thought seasoning rubs were a new idea.

Surprisingly, blueberries remained an uncultivated fruit until the early 20th century. They got their big break in 1911, when a New Jersey cranberry grower named Elizabeth White read about a USDA researcher who was attempting to cultivate blueberries. Blueberries grew around White's cranberry bogs, and she became fascinated with the possibility of growing the fruit commercially. Together, she and the researcher, Dr. Frederick Coville, spent the next five years working on crosses, and by 1916, they had successful cultivars.

White then launched a wholesale nursery business to supply blueberry bushes to farmers, giving the industry its start. She shipped fresh blueberries from her own farm to grocery stores and was the first fruit grower to cover the tops of her containers with cellophane, a pioneering improvement to packaging that's still in use.

Today, highbush blueberries (so called because they can reach six feet or more in height) are grown commercially in 38 states, Canada, Mexico and South America. The North American harvest starts in the early spring in the South; other regions follow, guaranteeing a domestic supply through most of October. The states that produce the most highbush blueberries: Michigan, Oregon, New Jersey, Georgia, Washington, and North Carolina. British Columbia in Canada is another large producer—growing nearly the same amount as Michigan. South America, where it's summer November through March, fills the U.S. winter demand. Chile is the largest supplier of winter fresh blueberries.

Long story short: Fresh blueberries are always in season.

As for the other fruits native to North America, two points if you nailed them. They are cranberries and Concord grapes. Learn more here:
http://pemaruccicenter.rutgers.edu/html/history_ewhite.html

Featured Recipe:
"If you can't take your turkey sandwich off the menu, at least you can give it a twist," Chef Samuel says. "We associate cranberry sauce and turkey, so I started with that classic combination and thought a Blueberry Chutney would give a similar flavor profile but the blueberries make it special. The Blueberry Chutney is great to have on hand to add a little spark to other dishes, too."

Take a look at Chef Scott Samuel's Roasted Turkey Sandwich with Blueberry Chutney.