Maine’s Wild Blueberry Weekend is back for its third year and scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 5 and 6. Organized by the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine, the weekend provides residents and visitors an opportunity to celebrate the state’s iconic, native berry. This is a statewide, multi-location event for visitors to check out wild blueberry farms in Franklin, Lincoln, Kennebec, Knox, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo, and Washington counties. Plus, dozens of eateries, breweries and wineries across the state will be serving up special wild blueberry drinks and dishes.
Many wild blueberry farmers will be selling their fruit directly to consumers, as well as hosting farm tours and other activities, while a wide range of Maine businesses will serve special food and beverages made with wild blueberries, according to a news release from the commission.
“Many of Maine’s wild blueberry farms go back six, seven, even eight generations,” said Eric Venturini, executive director of the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine. “Wild Blueberry Weekend is a great opportunity for locals and visitors to celebrate the dedicated, hard-working farmers that harvest this special Maine berry, and to learn more about the industry and traditions that are so important to our state and nation.”
Fun Facts About Maine’s Wild Blueberries
• Wild blueberries are a wild, place-based food. Through a happy convergence of geography, climate, and cultural tradition, Maine is the only state in the U.S. with significant commercial production of this wild crop.
• Wild blueberries emerged on the desolate plain, aptly called The Barrens of Maine following the retreat of the glaciers more than 10,000 years ago. They were first managed as a wild crop by the Wabanaki, who still manage thousands of acres today.
• Unlike ordinary blueberries, wild blueberries are not planted. Instead, they are indigenous (1 of 3 native North American fruits) and spread naturally where Mother Nature put them, with thousands of genetically different varieties in every field.
• Maine’s 485 wild blueberry farmers produce nearly 100 percent of all wild blueberries in the United States. Annual harvest yields vary from year to year but can be as high as 100 million pounds. The wild blueberry is designated as the official Maine berry and the wild blueberry pie is the State of Maine’s official State Dessert.
• Wild blueberries have the highest antioxidant capacity per serving compared with 20 other fruits tested by the USDA.
• Wild blueberry consumption is linked to brain health. Growing evidence suggests that eating wild blueberries daily may be a practical and effective part of a brain-healthy diet.
To learn more about Wild Blueberry Weekend and previous coverage from the weekend in August, visit wildblueberries.com.
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