Blueberry

Blueberries are small, sweet, and nutritious fruits that belong to the Vaccinium genus. They are native to North America and have been consumed by Indigenous peoples for centuries. Blueberries are widely known for their distinctive blue color, but they can also be found in shades of purple, black, and red, depending on the variety.

There are several types of blueberries, including the highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) and the lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium). Highbush blueberries are commonly cultivated and found in grocery stores, while lowbush blueberries are smaller and often used in wild harvesting.

Blueberries have been a part of the diet of Indigenous peoples in North America for centuries. Native American tribes, such as the Ojibwe, Cree, and Penobscot, used blueberries for both food and medicinal purposes. They consumed them fresh, dried, or mixed with animal fats to create a type of pemmican.

When European settlers arrived in North America, they were introduced to blueberries by the Indigenous populations. The settlers quickly adopted blueberries as part of their diet, and they also learned about various medicinal uses for the fruit.

Legend has it that early American colonists boiled blueberries with milk to make gray paint.

New Jersey agricultural specialist Elizabeth Coleman White, whose family owned a cranberry farm, teamed up with botanist Frederick Coville to develop and cultivate the first blueberry crop. White paid people for each bush they found with blueberries that measured at least 5/8 of an inch (16 mm). Coville uprooted and grafted them.  In 1916, White and Coville successfully cultivated the first blueberry crop, selling it under the name Tru-Blu-Berries.

During World War I, children in England were given time off school to pick blackberries. They were collected for the production of juice that was sent to soldiers to help maintain health.

During World War II, British fighter pilots ate bilberries, also called European blueberries, to improve their night vision.

Blueberries are grown in many regions worldwide, with the United States, Canada, and Chile being some of the largest producers. They thrive in acidic soils with good drainage and require a cold period during their dormancy, making them well-suited for temperate climates.

Wild blueberries are a major economic driver for Maine, generating over $1 billion in annual sales. Maine's blueberry industry employs over 10,000 people

Georgia has the longest harvest blueberry season in the US, lasting from late April through the end of July.

Bilberries are the most abundant berry in Sweden. They are slightly smaller than North American blueberries, have less sugar, and are a deep crimson color inside. Bilberry bushes are found all over Sweden and cover close to 20% of all the land. They are also consumed in large quantities as a blueberry soup (blåbärssoppa) during Vasaloppet, the oldest cross-country ski race in the world. 

Blueberries are considered a "superfood" due to their high nutritional value. They are rich in antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins, which give them their deep blue color and provide various health benefits. Blueberries are also a good source of vitamins C and K, manganese, and dietary fiber.

A 2012 study suggested that eating at least one serving of blueberries a week slowed cognitive decline by several years.

Blueberries and raspberries have the same pigment compounds, anthocyanins. Blueberries are purple because they are less acidic. If you add an acid like vinegar to crushed blueberries, they will turn red. Adding a base like baking soda will return them to purple.

The world record for hands-free eating of blueberry pie is 9.17lb in eight minutes. It is held by Patrick "Deep Dish" Bertoletti, an American competitive eater. at the Stand By Me World Pie Eating Championship in 2007. The Stand By Me World Pie Eating Championship is an annual event that is held in New Jersey. The competition consists of contestants eating as much blueberry pie as they can in 8 minutes. Bertoletti's record of 9.17 pounds is the highest total ever recorded in the competition.

Many products that claim to include blueberries actual contain blueberry juice or imitations of blueberries. Imitation blue berries are often made of corn syrup and blue dye. Kellogg's justified the lack of blueberries in one of their cereals by defining "blueberry muffin" as a flavor.