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How to add wild blueberries into your life

We are all on the go all the time. And we all know that feeling of not getting enough veg\fruit intake. We’ve created a list here of ways to add wild blueberries into your everyday life. And yes, even if you’re on the go.

Home Made Pizza

Making homemade pizza? Wild Blueberries are the perfect sweet toppings to add on. Add them on with your other ingredients then bake in the oven.

Yogurt

Top your plain yogurt off with fresh wild blueberries. This adds extra sweetness to your day. Plus, a ton of health benefits.

Smoothie

Super easy breakfast. Blend up your favourite foods which include wild blueberries and add them to your blender.

Charcuterie Board

Are you having some friends over and creating a charcuterie board? Add some wild blueberries to your board not only to add flavour but add some colour.

Toast

Why spread your toast with anything but wild blueberries? Grab your favourite wild blueberry jam and spread that toast up!

 

This little wild blue fruit is packed with anthocyanin pigments that protect our body from free radicals that are a major reason for early ageing and disease processes. Researchers from the past two decades have been studying this amazing fruit that can protect our health in so many ways. You’ll be reaching for these little sweet things time and time again.

 

Blue Pigment

What is blue Pigment?

We all know blueberries are a beautiful blue colour, but did you know that blue pigment has a wide variety of benefits?

To begin with, the blue pigment found in wild blueberries is one of the richest sources of anthocyanin pigments ( antho-flowering plan; cyanin-blue), all you need is a daily serving for 40g for some amazing health benefits.

So what is anthocyanin?

The word anthocyanin comes from the words Anthos (flower) and kuanos (blue).

They are the plant compounds found in the skin of Wild Blueberries that give them their blue hue. Research suggests that anthocyanin work to reduce inflammation and is beneficial to humans.

Wild Blueberries have some of the highest levels of anthocyanin.

What are some benefits of anthocyanin?

–   Studies show that Wild Blueberries have natural anti-inflammatory effects.

–   Anti Diabetic- a study showed results that wild blueberries are able to induce insulin secretion.

–   Happy heart- those who consume more anthocyanin-rich foods can reduce their risk for developing hypertension, coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease.

–   Cognitive Function- research has shown positive effects of anthocyanin consumption on the working memory of older adults. Research also suggests that anthocyanins have the potential to decrease inflammation, therefore, improving blood flow and increasing communication between cells in the brain.

So, not only are their many benefits to consuming a diet high in anthocyanin but these foods will add beautiful colour to your plate. They might even turn your tongue to a pretty purple-blue colour.

Canadian Wild Blueberries: What Happens to the Wild Blueberry?

If you’re like us, you’re probably curious about how harvest season looks for wild blueberry producers. When farmers are harvesting corn, wheat, oats or canola, they use combines with specific headers (and settings) for each type of crop. Apple pickers are often hired for harvest to hand pick apples, careful to not bruise them, and then they are sorted by shape, size and quality. Other berries are harvested by shaking the branches and using a hand held rake for the stragglers, allowing the fruit to drop to the ground which is covered with a tarp. 

How are Canadian Wild Blueberries Harvested?

 

While the wild blueberry used to be picked by hand or by using a small, hand-held rake, harvest has significantly changed for many producers over the last couple of decades. 90-95% of growers now use a mechanical harvester which is mounted to a tractor. These harvesters have rotating rakes that pull the berries from the branches, drop them onto a belt, and then drops them into large totes. 

             

 

Fact: Each tote can hold around 300 pounds of berries

 

Approximately only 1-2% of wild blueberry producers still use the more traditional method of hand-raking the wild blueberries off of the brush. There are also smaller mechanical harvesters, as well. These can be pushed, or have push rakes that are mounted onto smaller machines, and are often used on smaller farms. 

What Happens after They Are Picked?

 

Depending on the size of operation, there are different ways that producers go about handling their produce for Individual Quick Freezing (IQF). Most producers ensure that once the totes have been filled, they are loaded onto a flatbed trailer and brought to a receiving station. Here, they are weighed and loaded into a transport truck. These trucks will bring the berries to the processing plant, where they go through a series of events to prepare them for the individual quick freezing process. Note: some producers skip the flatbed trailer all together and load their berries directly into the transport truck for the delivery to the processing station. 

 

Once the berries arrive at the processing plant, they are cleaned in by going through a blower and several different water baths. To ensure quality control, they are sorted by using lasers, as well as other techniques. Once the berries have been sorted and cleaned, each and every wild blueberry is individually quick frozen. There are several different processes that the berries will then go through, depending on the processing plant, what the berries are being used for, and where they are going. In the end, the berries are then packaged and prepared to ship. For berries that are sold in the freezer section in your grocery store, most of the berries are packaged into 600 gram and 2 kilogram bags or containers. The vast majority of Canadian wild blueberries, however, are exported out of the country! 

Did you know that Japan uses wild blueberries primarily in yogurts and jams, while Germany will use Canadian wild blueberries most often in glass jars! 

What about Fresh Wild Blueberries?

 

Because fresh wild blueberries do not have a long shelf life, they are most often sold as frozen berries. But if you’re in an area during wild blueberry harvest, and you happen to get your hands on some of those small blue gems, we highly recommend doing so! The process of harvest-to-table of fresh wild blueberries is a little different. 

Once the berries are picked, they are then brought back to the shop on the local farm. They go through a similar process as their frozen counterparts, with a giant fan blowing out the debris. Then they go over a sizing belt which helps sort the berries by size and ripeness, a tilter belt that removes clusters, and then over a picking belt where workers can sort through the fruit to pull the bad ones out (note: some operations also have started using lasers to help with this sorting process). Boxes are then packed in several sizes, including pint, 5lb and 10lbs. You can find these blueberries fresh at farm markets, some local grocery stores, or roadside stands. The farms that have their own processors will often also freeze their berries, and sell them to consumers well after the harvest is over!  

We are so thankful for those who manage and harvest Canadian wild blueberries! We love those tangy little berries that are unique to our part of the world, and how versatile they are. It’s wonderful being able to use them in all types of food, throughout the year (thanks to IQF), and even other things like DIY paint and soap. 

 

What do you think? Did you know this is how the mighty wild blueberry was harvested and processed? Were there any surprises? Let us know in the comments!

Savoury Wild Blueberry and Pancetta Flatbread Pizza

Savoury Wild Blueberry & Pancetta Flatbread Pizza

The Kilted Chef, Chef Alain Bosse
Looking for a vibrant and delicious dish that won't take hours in the kitchen? This savoury wild blueberry and pancetta flatbread pizza checks all the boxes! Creating an upscale dish that will appeal to nearly everyone's taste buds in only 30 minutes while using fresh and locally sourced ingredients? You've come to the right place!
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 4 flatbread of your choice ie. naan
  • ½ cup diced pancetta
  • 24 basil leaves
  • ½ cup Van Dyks wild blueberry Juice
  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
  • ¼ cup maple syrup
  • 1 cup frozen wild blueberries divided
  • 4 oz feta
  • 2 green onions diced

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 450°F.
  • Place the diced pancetta into a saute pan, along with half of the basil leaves. Fry until the pancetta is crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove the pancetta and basil. Reserve the basil-infused drippings from the pan.
  • Prepare the reduction by combining the balsamic vinegar, the wild blueberry juice, the maple syrup and ½ cup of wild blueberries. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until the syrup coats the back of a spoon.
  • Brush the flatbread with the basil-infused oil, top with the pancetta, and the remaining half cup of wild blueberries, green onions and crumbled feta. Chiffonade the remaining basil and add to the top as well.
  • Place in a 450°F oven until the flatbread begins to crisp and the cheese is warm. Remove from the oven, drizzle with the reduction, and garnish with the reserved crisp basil leaves.
Keyword dinner, flatbread, pizza, wild blueberry

U-Pick Wild Blueberries in the Maritimes

With the summer truckin’ on, we are all excitedly anticipating the wild blueberry season, which usually starts sometime in August, and goes through until September (depending on the year)! There’s nothing that quite beats the taste of fresh wild blueberries, straight from the shrub, right? While you can often find these blue gems on your adventures down trails and paths, there are also several U-Picks throughout the maritimes! 

Nova Scotia

Wild Blueberry U-Pick

Location: 1 km north on the Upper Clyde Road Clyde River, NS, Canada
Phone: (902) 637-8322
Check out their website HERE

 

Glenhill Berry Farm

Location: Hwy #7, North Lochaber, NS
Phone: 902-783-2787 or Email: staylor@stfx.ca.
You can find more information HERE

 

BeeCee Farms Wild Blueberries

Location: 172 New France, Afton Rd. Antigonish, NS
Phone: (902) 863-2047
Watch for updates and information HERE

 

 

Wild Blueberry Health Benefits

 

New Brunswick

Trueman Blueberry Farms

Location: 255 Etter Ridge Road, Aulac Sackville, NB
Phone: (506) 364-7458
Check out their website HERE

 

Sunset U-Pick

Location: 49 Ferris street, Fredericton, NB
Phone: 506-459-3183
To learn more about Sunset U-Pick, click HERE

 

Michel Ross

Location: 3252 Route 135, Trudel, NB
Phone: 506-764-3533
There is no website for this farm, so you’ll want to call for all the updates!

Prince Edward Island

Blue Acre Farms 

Location: 15623 Route 14 Tignish, PE
Phone: (902) 882-3410
To watch for updates and get more information, click HERE

 

The McCardle’s Berry Patch

Location: 11860 St Peters Rd Tracadie Cross PE
Phone: (902) 676-2945
Check out their page for more information! You can find it HERE

 

Woodingtons Blueberry U-Pick

Location: 539 Route 104 Kensington, PE
Phone: (902) 836-5305
Click the link HERE to find out more information! 

 

 

Strawberries are great, apples are delicious, and picking your own pumpkin can be a blast. But we think there’s nothing quite like picking a bucket full of fresh wild blueberries! 

 

Have another u-pick in mind that you don’t see listed here? Drop a comment below and help us update this list! 

 

 

 

 

Lemon Cake with Wild Blueberry Sauce and Citrus Buttercream

Lemon Cake with Wild Blueberry Sauce and Citrus Buttercream

Chef Alain Bosse (The Kilted Chef)
Nothing short of zesty and refreshing, this lemon cake is perfect for your next summer bash. With a juicy wild blueberry sauce, and topped with a citrus buttercream, it's sure to be the star of the show whenever you bring it out!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

Wild Blueberry Sauce

  • 2 cups wild blueberries frozen
  • 1 lemon juice
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 package Knox gelatin
  • ½ cup wild blueberry juice (or water)
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 1 tsp almond extract
  • 2 tbsp butter

Lemon Cake

  • 5 egg whites
  • 2 lemons zest
  • 1 lemon juice
  • ¾ cup room temperature butter
  • cups sugar
  • cups cake flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup buttermilk

Citrus Buttercream

  • 1 cup room temperature butter
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 lemon juice
  • 5 cups icing sugar

Instructions
 

Wild Blueberry Sauce

  • Sprinkle gelatin over the wild blueberry juice. Set aside for 10 minutes.
  • Combine the frozen wild blueberries, sugar and lemon juice, and bring to a boil. Turn heat to medium, add gelatin mixture, and cook for 1 minute.
  • Finish with the almond extract, lemon zest and butter.
  • Set aside to cool.

Lemon Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Combine egg whites with lemon zest and juice. Set aside.
  • Cream the butter and sugar together. Scrape down the sides and add in the other dry ingredients.
  • Mix until they start to come together, then slowly add in egg whites.
  • Once egg whites have been incorporated, beat in buttermilk. Divide between two prepared 9 inch pans.
  • Place pans in preheated oven at 350°F and bake for 25 minutes. The cake will be quite light on top.

Citrus Buttercream

  • Place butter and salt in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Beat until smooth.
  • Add lemon juice and mixed until combined.
  • Add icing sugar one cup at a time until the buttercream is smooth.

To Assemble

  • Place one of the cakes onto a cake tray. Anchor in place with a tab of buttercream.
  • Put ½ of the buttercream into a piping bag and pipe a ring around the top of the cake. Place the cooled wild blueberry filling inside the ring.
  • Top with second cake. Use the remainder of the icing to frost the cake.
  • Enjoy!
Keyword baked treats, dessert, wild blueberry

Wild Blueberry Beet Salad

Wild Blueberry Beet Salad

Kilted Chef Alain Bosse
A delicious side dish that is earthy and improves with time!
Prep Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Course Salad

Ingredients
  

  • lbs red beets
  • lbs wild blueberries frozen
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup white wine vinegar
  • ½ tsp coarse sea salt
  • 1 tbsp freshly grated ginger
  • 1 orange segmented
  • 2 tbsp chopped chives
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Scrub beets. In a medium pot, add water to cover the beets and cook for approximately 1 hour. To check for doneness, insert a knife into a beet and check to see if it comes out easily.
  • Cool the beets. Slip off the skins.
  • Cut into ¼ inch cubes and place into a large bowl.
  • Combine beets with sugar, white wine vinegar, olive oil, sea salt, freshly grated ginger, zest of one good sized orange, the orange segments, chives and wild blueberries.
  • Toss delicately and set for at least an hour.
  • Top with grated orange peel and sea salt.

Notes

This salad recipe can last for up to 1 week if refrigerated. It also improves the flavour the longer it sits!
Keyword healthy eats, salad

Wild Blueberry Stuffed Chicken Breast with Wild Blueberry Hunter Sauce

Wild Blueberry Stuffed Chicken Breast with Wild Blueberry Hunter Sauce

Kilted Chef Alain Bosse
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Course
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 chicken breasts skin on, bone-in
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp canola oil
  • 2 sprigs thyme

Wild Blueberry Stuffing

  • ¼ cup wild blueberries
  • ¼ cup feta cheese
  • 2 tbsp chopped pecans
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme
  • pinch salt and pepper

Wild Blueberry Hunter Sauce

  • 1 tbsp canola oil
  • cups wild blueberries
  • ½ medium onion
  • 8 oz mushrooms sliced
  • ½ cup cherry tomatoes diced
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • ½ tbsp Dijon mustard
  • ¼ cup red wine
  • ½ cup beef broth
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme

Instructions
 

  • Combine ingredients into a bowl and mix well.
  • Preheat oven to 400°F
  • Debone your chicken breast. Create a cavity inside the chicken breast for the stuffing.
  • Place an ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter & canola oil until thebutter has melted into the oil, and it begins to shimmer.
  • Place the chicken breast skin side down in the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until golden brown. Flip chicken breast, add sprigs of thyme and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, basting with pan juices.
  • Remove chicken from the pan and place on a cutting board. Fill the cavity with the stuffing, returning it to the pan.
  • Place pan into preheated oven at 400°F for 20 minutes.
  • While chicken is cooking, prepare the hunter sauce.

Wild Blueberry Hunter Sauce

  • Heat the canola oil over medium-high heat. Add blueberries and onions and cook until onions become soft. Add tomatoes and mushrooms. Continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the Dijon mustard and tomato paste while cooking, stirring to combine.
  • Deglaze the pan with the red wine and add the beef stock along with the thyme. Stir well and cook until the sauce has reduced by half.
    *Option* You can create a cornstarch slurry with 1 tsp cornstarch, 1 tsp water to thicken the sauce.
  • Once the chicken has cooked, remove from the oven, cut in half and serve on a bed of your favourite greens. Top with the wild blueberry hunter sauce.
Keyword chicken, dinner, wild blueberry

Canadian Wild Blueberry Festivals You’ll Want to Check Out

We love the wild blueberry, and we’re not alone! Many people love them because of their versatility, their vibrant taste, and the mega health benefits that they give. The Canadian wild blueberry industry provides jobs to thousands of people across the country. We think it should be celebrated, and others agree! 

 

We’ve compiled a [growing] list of wild blueberry festivals that can be found across Canada. 

 

Prince Edward Island

St. Peters Wild Blueberry Festival

http://www.stpetersblueberryfestival.com/

A week long festival with many events and activities. Usually runs at the end of July. 

 

New Brunswick

Granite Town Wild Blueberry Festival 

https://www.facebook.com/GraniteTownWildBlueberryFestival

A week long celebration of all things St. George, NB. This town also known for its large blueberry! 

 

Nova Scotia

Wild Blueberry Fest

https://www.wildblueberryfest.com/

A two week celebration throughout the central region of Nova Scotia!

 

 Quebec

Festival Du Bleuet 

https://www.festivaldubleuet.com/

This festival is located in Dolbeau-Mistassini, Québec and runs for a week long. 

 

Saskatchewan 

St. Walburg Wild Blueberry Festival

https://blueberryfest.ca/?fbclid=IwAR1zZ78nOVskbSiA2U1mbq3Dhpy-Qpm1DVRDG2U-cmAMok8Oxmd8X8wU19g

Located in St. Walburg, Sask, this festival is held the 4th Saturday of August each year. 

 

 

Have you ever visited any of these festivals? Do you know of others that we haven’t listed? We want to hear from you! Drop us a line in the comment section below! 

 

*Disclaimer: due to the nature of the pandemic, some of these festivals may not be running in 2021. Please check out their websites & social media pages for up-to-date information

Wild Blueberry and Lemon White Chocolate Cake

Wild Blueberry and Lemon White Chocolate Cake

Kilted Chef Alain
Decadent and delicious. This tasty treat is perfect for featuring at your next get-together, or to enjoy the taste of summer all year long.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup butter room temperature
  • cup white sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp almond extract
  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 tbsp lemon zest
  • ½ cup fresh lemon juice
  • cup frozen wild blueberries
  • 1 tbsp all purpose flour
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips

Lemon Cream Cheese Butter Frosting

  • 1 8 oz block of cream cheese
  • ½ cup butter room temperature
  • 2 tsp lemon extract or 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 3 cups icing sugar
  • 1-2 tbsp heavy cream

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F
  • Cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar using a hand or stand mixer.
  • Add eggs in one at a time, beating just until combined.
  • Add vanilla extract and almond extract and combine.
  • In a separate bowl, mix together buttermilk, lemon juice and lemon zest.
  • In another bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt. Add ⅓ of the flour mixture to the mixer, followed by ½ of the buttermilk mixture. Repeat, ending with the flour.
  • Place frozen wild blueberries in a bowl and toss with the 1 tbsp of flour. Add to the batter, along with the white chocolate chips. Fold to incorporate.
  • Line two 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper and grease. Divide the batter between the two pans evenly.
  • Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.

Lemon Cream Cheese Butter Frosting

  • Place the cream cheese and butter into the bowl of the stand mixer, and use the paddle attachment to cream the two together.
  • Add lemon extract and mix. Add icing sugar 1 cup at a time. Add heavy cream as neded to keep the icing fluid and smooth
  • Beat for 3 - 4 minutes until light and airy.
  • Place one of the cooled cakes on a dessert plate and spread ⅓ of the icing on top. Add the second cake layer and place the remaining icing on top. You can leave the sides naked, or if you prefer, spread the icing around the edge.
  • Garnish with some more lemon zest and a lemon twist.
Keyword baked treats, dessert