Blueberries

Blueberry/Rēua

Availability

New Zealand blueberries are available from October to April.

Storage and Handling

In cooler months blueberries are best kept at room temperature but at the height of summer they need to be refrigerated. Handle all fresh produce with care and wash before eating.

History

The blueberry is one of the few fruit native to North America. Native American tribes consumed the berries fresh and also preserved them. Parts of the plant were used as medicine. A tea made from the leaves of the plant was thought to be good for the blood. Blueberry juice was used to treat coughs. The juice also made excellent dye for baskets and cloth.

Facts

Blueberries grow on shrubs that are either deciduous (lose their leaves each year) or evergreen (keep their leaves)
Blueberries are green and they ripen to a deep blue/purple colour

Growing Facts

The largest producer of blueberries in the world is the USA
The species of blueberry grown commercially requires a lot of winter chilling
Around 80% of NZ blueberries are grown in the Waikato

Nutrition Information

1 cup = 157g

	Average Quantity per serving	% Daily Intake per serve	Average Quantity per 100 g
Energy (kJ/Cal)	331/79	4%	211/50
Protein (g)	1	2%	0.6
Fat, total (g)	0.5	1%	0.3
- saturated (g)	0.05	0%	0.03
Available carbohydrate (g)	14.6	5%	9.3
- sugars (g)	14.4	16%	9.2
Dietary Fibre (g)	6	20%	4
Sodium (mg)	3	0%	2
Vitamin C (mg)	6	15% RDI*	3.84
Vitamin E (mg)	1.4	14% RDI*	0.9