Know Your Commodity REFERENCES — Blueberries

Know Your Commodity — Blueberries Page 1 of 5 Copyright ©Blue Book Services 2003, 2013, 2015

Know Your Commodity REFERENCES — Blueberries

Know Your Commodity — Blueberries Page 2 of 5 Copyright ©Blue Book Services 2003, 2013, 2015

Know Your Commodity REFERENCES

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Blueberries The blueberry is one of the few fruits native to North America. They were gathered by Native Americans from bogs and forests, and consumed fresh or preserved. Additionally, blueberries have been used for medicinal purposes, as dye for baskets and cloth, and dried to use as a spice. Sources: Produce Marketing Association, USDA, U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council.

SEASONAL AVAILABILITY CALIFORNIA FLORIDA GEORGIA MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN NEW JERSEY NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA OHIO OREGON PENNSYLVANIA TEXAS WASHINGTON ARGENTINA CANADA CHILE CHINA NEW ZEALAND URUGUAY Sources: Produce Marketing Association, USDA, U.S. Highbush Blueberry Coucil, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. Know Your Commodity — Blueberries Page 3 of 5 Copyright ©Blue Book Services 2003, 2013, 2015

Know Your Commodity REFERENCES — Blueberries TYPES, VARIETIES & CUTS The most common types of blueberries are Northern highbush, lowbush (wild) and rabbiteye. Northern highbush blueberries are most common in North America, and include many different varieties. Thirty-eight U.S. states produce blueberries, but six account for the majority of highbush crops: Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon, North Carolina, Georgia, and Washington. British Columbia is the primary producer of highbush blueberries in Canada. Lowbush or wild blueberries are used primarily in food processing and grown in Maine and eastern Canada. Requiring minimal management and indigenous to the area, wild blueberries are naturally resistant to many pests. Rabbiteye blueberries are commonly grown in the South and have no major pests associated with them. Sources: Texas A&M University, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, USDA.

PESTS & DISEASE Common diseases: Botrytis rot (grey mold) is a fungus that grows at temperatures as low as 32ºF (0ºC); however, growth is slow at this temperature. The fungus rhizopus rot is easily spread but will not die at temperatures below 41º F (5ºC). Twig blight is a fungal disease that develops in early spring from dead, infected twigs. Common pests: Aphids feed on the undersides of young leaves and tender shoots and reproduce quickly. When present, natural enemies tend to control aphid populations. Rhagoletis mendex (blueberry maggot) is a small fly that lays eggs in the fruit. Upon hatching, the small white larvae (maggots) feed on the inside of the berries. Sources: Michigan State University Extension, North Carolina State University, UC Davis Postharvest Technology website.

CULTIVATION, STORAGE & PACKAGING Preharvest Blueberry plants perform well in acidic, sandy, well drained soil. Roots are fibrous, shallow, and sensitive to soil compaction and poor drainage. High organic matter increases the water capacity and improves aeration. Drought conditions adversely affect growth; crops benefit from irrigation during dry seasons. Postharvest Blueberries are easily damaged by rough handling and adverse temperatures. Manual harvesting occurs over the course of three to four weeks as the berries ripen. Mechanical harvesting tends to cause excessive damage; these berries are often considered unfit for the fresh market and sold for processing or freezing. Regular pruning of blueberry plants is required to produce high yields and performed when the plants dormant, in either late fall, winter, or early spring. Early spring pruning is recommended because injury sustained during winter months can be identified and removed. Blueberries should be cooled within 4 hours of harvest to lower respiration and slow ripening. A controlled atmosphere with 15 to 20% carbon dioxide and 5 to 10% oxygen reduces mold growth and other decay-causing organisms. Sources: Michigan State University Extension, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, UC Davis Postharvest website. Know Your Commodity — Blueberries Page 4 of 5 Copyright ©Blue Book Services 2003, 2013, 2015

Know Your Commodity REFERENCES — Blueberries GOOD ARRIVAL GUIDELINES/TOLERANCES Good arrival guidelines in the United States permit 15% total average defects, 8% serious damage and 3% decay upon arrival at contract destination after five days in transit. Good arrival guidelines in Canada permit 8% total defects allowed by grade, 3%* total permanent defects (*no more than 1% foreign material), 3% maximum for any single permanent grade, 8% maximum condition defect and 3% maximum decay (additional tolerances apply). Recommended transit temp is 31 to 32ºF. Sources: DRC, PACA, USDA.

INSPECTOR’S INSIGHTS • Stems are a defect, scored against a separate 10% tolerance, for attached stems only • Blueberries have to be well colored, meaning more than half the berry is blue, bluish-purple, purple, bluish-red, or bluish-black • Wet berries, due to juice from adjoining split, crushed, or decayed berries is scored as a defect • Score damage by shriveling when noticeable: “readily noticeable” means shriveling or wrinkling is easily observed when berries are handled or rolled around a flat surface. If the inspector has to closely examine or “study” the berry, however, there is not a sufficient amount of shriveling and it shall not be scored as a defect. Source: Tom Yawman, International Produce Training, www.ipt.us.com.

HEALTH & NUTRITION Blueberries are low in calories, high in fiber, have no fat or cholestrol, and are an excellent source of Vitamin C. Sources: Produce Marketing Association, USDA, ProduceOasis.com, U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council.

MISCELLANEOUS Native American tribal elders told stories of how the Great Spirit sent blueberries or “star berries”—so called because of the blossom end’s five-pointed star—to sooth children’s hunger in times of famine. The blueberry is the only truly blue food, and tend to be an impulse buy at retailers, except during the days leading to Fourth of July celebrations. Sources: North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, USDA, U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council.

Know Your Commodity — Blueberries Page 5 of 5 Copyright ©Blue Book Services 2003, 2013, 2015

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