August 5, 2007 Blueberries

It's blueberry festival time! The 25th anniversary of the annual blueberry festival in Sioux Lookout is running August 3 to 12 (see http://www.siouxlookout.com/bluefest) and the 6th annual Nipigon
blueberry blast is taking place August 3-6 (call 1-877-596-1359 for information). So take advantage of this great time of year to go out and enjoy these and other berries.

What are the health benefits of blueberries?

There is growing evidence that the antioxidants contained in blueberries help fight aging, cancer and heart disease. One serving of fresh blueberries, especially the wild ones, provides more
antioxidants than many other fruits and vegetables. See http://www.blueberry.org and http://www.wildblueberries.com for more information on the health benefits of blueberries.

Do Saskatoon berries have similar health benefits?

Yes, they do. The Saskatchewan Fruit Growers Association cites a three year study that has shown that the antioxidant activity of the saskatoon berry is comparative to that of the blueberry, blackberry and grape seed extract. http://www.saskfruit.com. However, they are higher in protein, fat, fiber, calcium, iron and potassium . For a side-by-side chart, see:
http://www.dnagardens.com/saskatoonutrition.htm

I've heard the Saskatoon berry called a serviceberry? Are they the same?

Yes, there are several other names for the Saskatoon berry as well: juneberry, shad-blossom, shadbush, mespilus, and sarvis. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serviceberry).

What is a bumbleberry?

This is not one berry but a combination of berries and fruit, a "tumble" of fruit as I've seen it described. The fruit could be rhubarb, strawberries, apples, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries,
and/or blackberries. Check out this interesting story by Jeannette Ferrary about her search for the elusive bumbleberry: http://www.viamagazine.com/top_stories/articles/berries01.asp. It
includes a recipe for bumbleberry pie as well.

How do I tell a chokecherry from a pin cherry?

Chokecherry leaves are egg-shaped with fine, sharp teeth. Pin cherry leaves a narrow, have in-curved teeth and are bright green and shiny above, paler beneath. The white flowers of the chokecherry are in long, dense clusters whereas the pin cherry has white flowers in umbrella-like clusters. Both have pea-sized berries which are too sour to eat fresh but make delicious jelly. Chokecherries are dark red to purplish black and pin cherries are light red. (A Field Guide
to Berries and Berrylike Fruits).

Before you get your berries you might want to check out these berry recipe books: Berries: a Cookbook, Berries: a Harrowsmith Gardener's Guide, The Berry Cookbook, The Compleat Blueberry Cookbook, Berries: a Country Garden Cookbook, Summer Berries, and Cooking with Berries. And, if you're a mystery reader, you'll be familiar with Joanne Fluke's culinary mysteries that feature recipes. Have a look at Blueberry Muffin Murder that includes a recipe for these muffins and 7 other baked goods. If you're a fan of this genre, go to NoveList in our virtual collection to find titles of similar books. For help with this or any of your searching needs, don't hesitate to call, e-mail or instant message library staff for assistance.

Happy berry season!

Sylvia Renaud, Head of Reference Services