Frozen Wild Blueberries Emerge as a New Kitchen Staple
Frozen Wild Blueberries are having their day! While “fresh” was once the mantra for healthy eaters, during the last few years “frozen” is the word that is capturing the attention of consumers seeking more options. Industry reports show sales are up for healthy frozen fruit, an indication that today’s shopper is taking advantage of the benefits of frozen. Consumers have discovered the facts about nutritional value, and they are demanding food that is available year round without nutritional sacrifices. A rising interest in competitive prices and low waste as well as an effort by consumers to stretch tightened budgets has only contributed to this “cool” trend of stocking the fridge with delicious, convenient, economical Wild Blueberries.
In 1998, the Food & Drug Administration confirmed that frozen fruits and vegetables provide the same essential nutrients and health benefits as fresh — great news for those seeking year-round healthy foods. Furthermore, quick frozen foods like Wild Blueberries can actually be better than fresh because they retain their nutritional value longer. Frozen Wild Blueberries don’t lose nutrients as they age during shipping and storage. Instead, they are picked and frozen at the peak of freshness, locking in all that antioxidant power, thanks to the development of a technology known as the Individually Quick-Frozen (IQF) method.
Popularity of the frozen Wild Blueberry in particular has been aided by the berry’s high ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) score. ORAC is the USDA standard measurement used to determine antioxidant properties of various foods. Those with a high score are thought to lessen the incidence of cancer as well as reduce aging factors. Wild Blueberries top the ORAC chart of 40 tested foods, making them the #1 antioxidant fruit — fresh or frozen. It’s another reason that consumers are saving a year-round spot in their freezer for this powerful little blue fruit.
The Benefits of Frozen
Consumers are connecting with the message that frozen Wild Blueberries have the same delicious taste, nutritional value and antioxidant power as fresh. Here are some of the other reasons the frozen trend is poised to catch on with consumers:
- Convenient bulk packages means Wild Blueberries are always available.
- Single servings are easy to extract from the freezer for use in meals, in recipes or for snacking.
- Stand-up, resealable pouches are available for some premium products.
- Frozen Wild Blueberries are a great value when compared to in-season pricing.
- No aging or spoiling means no waste, adding to the economic benefit.
- Frozen is a better choice for concocting frosty, nutritious smoothies.
- Frozen Wild Blues are easy to work with and perfect for most recipes that call for blueberries.
- Frozen Wild Blues have no caloric syrups and additives.
- Wild Blueberries, besides being a better antioxidant source, have less water than cultivated berries, so they retain their structure even better while frozen.
- Only premium fruit is frozen, yielding a consistently superior product.
