Child Nutrition Corner… Our September/October promotions is titled “POWER UP WITH
BLUEBERRIES” Fall in love with berries all over again by learning some blueberry fun facts. Everyone loves blueberries
whether they're picked and eaten straight from the bush or baked into a favorite dessert or yogurt parfait but have you ever
wanted to know more about this delicious fruit? Explore some of the lesser-known facets of this classic American food source.
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American poet, Robert Frost, loved blueberries so he wrote a poem about them. You guessed it; the poem was called
"Blueberries."
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America's favorite muffin is, of course, blueberry.
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Blueberries are one of the only natural foods that are truly blue in color.
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July is national blueberry month because that is the peak of the harvest season.
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The pale, powder-like protective coating on the skin of blueberries is called "bloom."
Did You Know?
The annual harvest of North American blueberries would cover a four lane highway from Chicago to New York if
spread out in a single layer.
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The anthocyanin present in blueberries is good for eyesight.
Blueberries contain more antioxidants than most other fruits or vegetables and may help prevent damage caused by
cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's.
A blueberry extract diet improves balance, coordination, and short-term memory in aging rats.
The blueberry industry of North America ships over 500 metric tons of fresh berries to Japan each year and over 100
metric tons to Iceland.
Blueberries are naturally low in both fat and sodium.
Maine is the blueberry production capital of North America and produces almost 100 percent of all berries harvested in
the country.
Blueberries grow best in acidic soil at a pH of four to five and make a good container plant.
Minnesota claims the blueberry muffin as its official state muffin and New Jersey claims the berry as its official state
fruit.
Blueberries are the official berries of Nova Scotia, Canada.
Come and try some blueberries in our oatmeal, parfaits, crisps, and muffin tops and fruit salads.
To find out more information about blueberries go to the link below:
Home link: http://www.2020site.org/fun-facts/Blueberry-Fun-Facts.html
Roxann Roushar
Director of Child Nutrition