BLUEBERRIES Minnesota’s superfood

BY SHANNON GEISEN

Park Rapids Enterprise

Minnesota has two native blueberries: common lowbush blueberries and velvetleaf blueberries.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, both grow primarily in the northeastern half of the state, but they can be found growing from the furthest northwestern counties all the way to the southeastern corner of the state.

This is a low bush, growing from six inches to two feet high. It often grows in colonies.

Bell-shaped white or pinkish flowers bloom in late May or early June. Berries begin as white, pale blue or green and mature to round, dark blue berries in July and August.

In Minnesota, berry picking is allowed in state parks and in state and national forests, and the rangers might even direct you to a good area.

How to pick blueberries

“You don’t need fancy equipment,” writes Teresa Marrone in Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, a DNR publication. “A one-gallon ice cream pail with a handle works well to hold the fruit. You can set it on the ground and drop berries into it as you pick, and unlike a plastic bag, it won’t snag on sticks and thorns as you walk.”

Marrone recommends hiking boots are great for rough or steep areas.

The best habitat, says Marrone, includes open, coniferous woodlands and sandy or rocky edges of coniferous and mixed-woods forests; sun-drenched hilltops and rocky ridges; forest clearings; and edges of footpaths. They thrive in areas that have been scoured by fire, where picking can be phenomenal for the next few years.

Blueberries ripen starting in mid- to late July, continuing through August.

Fruits of both native blueberries grow in clusters from branch tips.

“Underripe berries are green, becoming pinkish before ripening to deep blue with a whitish bloom; ripe berries look just like supermarket blueberries but are smaller – typically ¼ to 1/3 inch across. A key ID feature is the short five-pointed crown that is present on the top.

Ripe berries detach easily from the bush,” she writes.

According to Marrone, velvet-leaf blueberries are tarter than common lowbush blueberries.

“Both can be used like domestic blueberries, but because they’re so small they pack together more closely—so you can use a smaller measure of wild blueberries in muffins or similar recipes. Wild blueberries make outstanding jam and pie.”

Slow growers

According to the University of Minnesota Extension, blueberry plants grow slowly, and they may not seem to get much bigger from year to year. It takes a blueberry bush about 10 years to reach mature size, but this also means they will live a long, long time.

For those who plant them in their yard, “it will be 2 or 3 years before you start getting large harvests, but it is definitely worth the wait. The bushes are very attractive and will be a beautiful addition to your yard while you wait for fruit.”

Freeze like a pro

Minnesota Grown, a newsletter produced by the Minnesota Department of Agricultures, advises the following:

► Don’t wash your berries until you use them. This will help prevent spoilage.

► Remove overly soft fruit, stems and leaves. Be gentle with the fruit.

► Drop berries in cold water and swish for 10 seconds before draining. Dry on towels.

► Place berries on a lined cookie sheet with space around each. Freeze for 30 min.

► Transfer to a seal-able container and freeze completely. Enjoy for up to a year.

Go blue

According to Mayo Clinic, scientists have shown that blueberries are loaded with compounds (phytonutrients) that may help prevent chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.

Blueberries may also improve shortterm memory and promote healthy aging. Blueberries are a low-calorie source of fiber and vitamin C — 3/4 cup of fresh blueberries has 2.7 grams of fiber and 10.8 milligrams of vitamin C.

State muffin

As part of a social studies exercise, a class of third graders in Carlton, Minn., proposed that the blueberry muffin become the state muffin. Their bill was signed into law in 1988.

Shannon Geisen can be reached at sgeisen@parkrapidsenterprise.com.