Here are the answers to questions commonly asked about Wild Blueberries, their health and nutritional benefits, and where to find them.

Where do Wild Blueberries grow?

Wild Blueberries thrive in the glacial soils and northern climate of the special place we call the Land of Wild Blueberries – Maine, Atlantic Canada and Quebec.

Wild Blueberries are one of three berries native to North America. What are the others?

Like Wild Blueberries, Concord grapes and cranberries have grown naturally for thousands of years.

How are Wild Blueberries harvested?

Today, Wild Blueberries are often harvested the traditional way, with hand-held berry rakes that have been used for generations. Within hours of being picked, the berries are sorted, cleaned and processed, using state-of-the-art technology to preserve their flavor, quality and antioxidant goodness.

How are Wild Blueberries different from cultivated blueberries?

Wild Blueberries differ from cultivated in many ways:

Taste: Their unique mixture of tanginess and sweetness give Wild Blueberry varieties a delicious burst of natural flavor you just can’t find anywhere else.
Size: Naturally smaller and more compact than cultivated berries, the Wild Ones deliver more berries per pound.
Performance: Wild blueberries hold their shape, texture and deep-blue color through a variety of baking and manufacturing processes. And they freeze extraordinarily well. In fact, individually quick frozen (IQF) Wild Blueberries maintain their quality for more than two years.
Anthocyanin capacity: Wild Blueberries contain more anthocyanin – a powerful antioxidant linked to protection against brain aging – than their cultivated cousins.

Health FAQs

What do antioxidants do?

The cells in our body are constantly waging a battle against free radicals – unstable oxygen molecules associated with cancer, heart disease and the effects of aging. Antioxidants, which are natural substances found in fruits and vegetables, come to the rescue by neutralizing free radicals and keeping us healthy.

What is ORAC?

Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) is the definitive measurement of a food’s antioxidant capacity.

ORAC tests and other studies show that blueberries are #1 in antioxidant activity. What does that mean for me?

That means a serving of Wild Blueberries has more of the antioxidant power you need to help fight cancer, heart disease, short-term memory loss and other effects of aging than any other fruit or vegetable.

What is anthocyanin? And why is it important?

Anthocyanin is a powerful antioxidant responsible for the intense blue and red pigments of fruits like Wild Blueberries. Anthocyanin is believed to protect against brain aging and promote vision health. In addition to reducing eye strain and improving night vision, scientists are examining the ability of anthocyanin-rich Wild Blueberries to prevent macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people over age 65.

How do Wild Blueberries help fight the effects of aging?
James Joseph, Ph.D, and his team at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center in Boston report that a diet of blueberries may improve motor skills and reverse the short-term memory loss that comes with aging. USDA animal trials showed improved navigational skills after a two-month diet of blueberry extract. Although other fruits and vegetables were studied, only blueberries were effective in improving motor skills.
Journal of Neuroscience, September 15, 1999, 19(18); 8114-8121

What role might Wild Blueberries play in preventing cancer?
Studies conducted by Mary Ann Lila Smith, Ph.D, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, indicate that compounds in Wild Blueberries may be effective inhibitors of both the initiation and promotion stages of cancer.
Journal of Food Science, Vol. 65, No. 2, 2000

Can Wild Blueberries help protect against urinary tract infections?
Yes. At the Rutgers University Blueberry Cranberry Research Center, Amy Howell, Ph.D, showed that blueberries, like cranberries, contain compounds that prevent the bacteria responsible for urinary tract infections from attaching to the wall of the bladder.
New England Journal of Medicine, October 9, 1998, Volume 339, Number 15

Nutrition FAQs

Why is eating colorful foods, like blueberries, such a hot topic?

Scientific research is showing that many of the very chemicals, known as phytochemicals, that give fruits and vegetables their color are good for us.

What’s more, The Color Code, a new book now available nationwide, explores the powerful connection between the color of foods and optimum health. According to James A. Joseph, Ph.D., one of the book’s authors, "Incorporating colorful fruits and vegetables into a daily eating plan may be the best defensive strategy for fending off many diseases of aging such as cancer, heart disease and dementia."

What is the 5 A Day Program?

The 5 A Day for Better Health program was developed in 1991 as a partnership between the National Cancer Institute and the Produce for Better Health Foundation. This unique partnership has been successful in increasing the awareness of the health benefits of fruits and vegetables, as well as their consumption in the United States for over a decade.

What are the 5 A Day guidelines?

The guidelines recommend eating 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day for better health.

How do Wild Blueberries fit into the 5 A Day guidelines?

It’s no longer okay to have just a few servings of one fruit or another. Research shows that we need all of the colors in our diet – including blue.

How big is a serving of Wild Blueberries?

Just a half-cup of Wild Blueberries satisfies one of your recommended 5 A Day servings.

Are frozen berries as nutritious as fresh ones?

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration concluded that frozen fruits and vegetables are just as healthy as fresh and many even retain their nutritional value longer. That’s good news for Wild Blueberries, which freeze extraordinarily well.

Availability FAQs

Where can I buy them – and when?

Wild Blueberries are available year-round. Consumers can buy them at their local supermarkets in frozen, canned, jarred, dried and fresh forms. For the trade, Wild Blueberries are also available in concentrate, purée, powder and extruded forms.