British Columbian blueberry farms, teams are now out in the fields hand-picking the first berries of what promises to be an excellent season for industry and blueberry-lovers alike.Harvest started about a week earlier than the past two years, and the first of the B.C. blueberry crop is already available in supermarkets, farmers' markets and produce stores across the province. Referred to as "nature's candy," B.C. blueberries will be harvested until at least late September.
"This year's crop is exceptional in both the quality of the fruit we're seeing, and the size of the harvest," said Debbie Etsell, executive director of the BC Blueberry Council. "Growing conditions were close to perfect this year, with such a sunny spring, and no extreme weather. That meant that a lot of fruit was pollinated." So much fruit, in fact, that the Council is expecting that this year's harvest of 68 million kilograms will be even larger than last year's crop. The 2013 BC blueberry crop came in at over 55 million kilograms making British Columbia the largest highbush blueberry growing region in the world, with Canada ranking third as a country.
The most popular way to enjoy B.C. blueberries is to simply grab a handful! But for those handy in the kitchen, the BCblueberry.com website has more than 100 recipes with creative and healthy ideas on how to use the berries - from nutritious breakfasts and traditional baking, through to salads, cocktails and ideas for the grill. For a delicious al fresco dinner, try Quick Blueberry Lamb Kebabs served alongside a Blueberry Margarita with Cucumber and Basil. Get the kids involved in making the dessert with a cool and creamy No Bake Frozen Blueberry Pie.
