Jersey Blues

Blueberry time has come to New Jersey and farmers are looking forward to a bountiful 2012 crop.  This year's crop is two weeks earlier than normal due to the mild winter.  The fresh fruit can be found in markets and roadside stands.  Personally I like to eat the berries right off the bush.  That is not one by one, but by the handful.  The versatile fruit becomes tasty in pies, muffins, and a variety of cakes, smoothies, and the list can go on.  The Department of Agriculture has rated blueberries as having the highest antioxidants activity of forty fruits and vegetables.  They are low in calories and contain small amounts of Vitamin C, A, E.  Traditionally blueberries have been a part of the food culture of Native Americans for many years and it is recommended berries be eaten weekly.

Bushes must be pruned in the winter to remove old plant growth.  Please notice these pruners are not your small hand held.  Farmers often refer to these tools as "lopers."

These young men were gracious to let me photograph them.  It was a mild February day and heavy apparel was not necessary.  These fellows would continue the pruning if the temperature was very cold and snow was on the ground.  Please notice the reddish color of the bushes.  Looking across a field during winter months is quite a view.

Hand picking is always the best way to harvest these delicate berries, but sometimes it is necessary to use a harvester that can gather the crop quickly.  Some lucky farmer will put this machine in operation this summer.

This front view of the harvester shows the rotating finger like spikes that will remove the berries from the bushes.

A field of blossoms is quite a beautiful sight.  The bee is doing his job for each polinated blossom will produce berries.

The blossoms remind me of little bells.  It is now mid-June and the blossoms are gone and the berries are well under way to be picked.  There are different varieties of blueberries.  Years in the past the size of berries ranged from a small pea to a nickel.  Now through research berry size can range from nickels to quarters.

This cluster of almost ripe berries will soon be ready for eating.  Here's hoping they will be added to your menu perhaps for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just a healthy snack.  Enjoy!

                                      Heaven Blueberry Crunch

3 cups of blueberries                                            1 can crushed pineapple (save the juice)
1 box yellow cake mix (pudding recipe)                  1 cup of sugar
1 stick of melted butter                                         crushed nuts (optional)

Grease 9x13 baking pan.  Spread pineapple in bottom of pan.  Mix washed berries with 3/4 cup of sugar.  Spread berries over pineapple.  Pour cake mix over berries.  Sprinkle rest of sugar over top of cake mix.  Drizzle melted butter and juice evenly over all.  Bake 375, for 40 minutes or until golden brown.  Can be served with whipped cream, ice cream or just plain.