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Local Talent
Touted as one of the “super foods” Lowers risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer
POWERFUL BLUEBERRY HEALTH BENEFITS
Contains phytonutrients called polyphenols Improves brain health
Fights urinary infections
blueberries grow well in Florida’s central ridge from Lake City to Lake Wales, where there are more hills, and high and dry land, rather than swampy areas.
“We are blueberry central,” he says.
After visiting the state festival in Brooksville, Joseph felt a local festival was needed to celebrate the agricultural and economic impact of blueberries in Lake County and Central Florida.
Mount Dora city offi cials welcomed the idea, and Joseph credits Janet and fellow team members Brian Young and Sandy Farnsworth with having the necessary festival expertise to make it happen. The Mount Dora Blueberry Festival kicked off in 2015 with about 8,000 people attending. It grew to an estimated 35,000 attendance in 2016, and Joseph predicts 50,000 will be at this month’s event.
“The whole blueberry festival really has been a phenomenon. It is the fi rst one, the biggest, and growing the fastest,” he says of the Festivals of Florida venue. “Every grower that was at the event last year sold out of everything they brought. In fi ve years, I think we will have the most attendance of any blueberry festival in Florida, and that is my goal. Once they get that new connector [road] from Orlando coming right to Mount Dora, it is going to open it up to a lot more people. They can get into Mount Dora much quicker,
Decreases inflammation
Helps reduce belly fat
Helps moderate blood sugar levels
Vital source of manganese for bone development and to convert carbs into energy Rich in antioxidants of vitamins C, B complex, E, A, K1, zinc, iron, copper, and selenium
Good source of dietary fiber to promote healthy digestive tract
Only 80 calories per cup
Decreases risk of DNA damage and increases lifespan Virtually no fat; naturally free of sodium
Reduces risk of cognitive decline and Parkinson’s disease
Lowers blood cholesterol levels
One cup provides 24% of daily needs for vitamin C, for skin texture and smoothing wrinkles Improves glucose control and insulin sensitivity
Possibly vital in fight against Alzheimer’s disease
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Third annual Mount Dora Blueberry Festival
WHEN: 9am-5 pm April 29-30
WHERE: Elizabeth Evans Park, 100 N. Donnelly St.
ACTIVITIES: Crafters, blueberry pancake breakfast, a blueberrybaking contest, judging, and sales, a blueberry pie-eating contest, and growers with blueberries for sale.
ENTERTAINMENT: Music by the Judy Family Bluegrass Band and Bobby Blackmon.
— JOSEPH STEED
and I think when that happens, we’ll see an explosion in attendance.”
Joseph envisions the Mount Dora Blueberry Festival surpassing the Brooksville event.
“It’s a different demographic, and people love coming to Mount Dora. It’s a festival city, and the huge population base puts us in the position to grow a bigger festival,” he says, recalling many festivalgoers praised last year’s event with the common refrain: “We love blueberries and we’re glad somebody is doing this!” Do you love baking? Find details and an application for the blueberry-baking contest posted at festivalsoffl orida.com/blueberry.
“Last year, about 30 people entered and they brought in some delicious stuff,” Joseph says, adding the pie-eating contest for kids also was a big hit.
“They had a grand time with blueberries all over themselves. It was fun,” he says, recalling growers ran out of blueberries on the fi rst day and were scrambling to get more.
“They had to rush back and pick blueberries for the next day,” Joseph recalls. “They were setting up lights and picking blueberries under the lights.”
He believes visitors will enjoy hearing the music by Bobby Blackmon and the Judy Family Bluegrass Band, which has deep historical ties to Mount Dora. Wyona Judy’s maiden name was Drawdy, and her great-grandmother was Dora Ann Drawdy—one of the fi rst settlers in Mount Dora and the woman for whom surveyors named Lake Dora in 1846. COST: Free
