THE MAINE MARKET BASKET

 A weekly news service for promoting 

 Maine's healthy, local and seasonal

 foods.

Featured crop: Blueberries

August is a great month for taking a walk on the wild side, with fresh Maine-grown wild blueberries, that is. 

It is only fitting that a little state like our own should be the world's leading producer of this little berry. 

When it comes to flavor and health benefits, though, there's nothing little about Maine blueberries.  Wild blueberries have more antioxidants than any other fruit and are delicious eaten raw or cooked in cobblers, pies, and muffins. 

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Shopping info:

There are two main types of blueberry plants: highbush and wild, also known as lowbush.  While both are cultivated in Maine, the state is best known for its wild variety whose berries are smaller and have a more intense flavor.

Choose blueberries that are plump and firm with a whitish bloom (surface coating). Gently shake the container, noticing whether berries move freely. If they do not, this may indicate that they are soft and damaged or moldy. Avoid berries that appear dull in color or are soft and watery in texture.

Storage info:

Ripe blueberries are best consumed immediately, but may be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to a week.   Always check berries before storing and remove any damaged berries to prevent the spread of mold. But don't wash berries until right before eating as washing will remove the bloom that protects the fruit's skin from spoiling.

Featured Recipe:

Blueberry Smoothie
 

This simple recipe is very popular with children and is a great way to cool off on a hot summer day.

Ingredients
1 cup of blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1 cup of yogurt (plain, vanilla or blueberry)
1 tablespoon honey (if plain yogurt is used)
4 ice cubes

Procedure:
Mix ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend well at high speed. Serve immediately.

Serves 2

Did you know?

-Blueberries are one of the few truly blue foods on earth.

-Blueberries are one of the few fruits native to North America.

-Maine produces 25% of all blueberries in North America, making it the largest producer in the world.

-Maine's blueberry crop requires about 50,000 beehives for pollination, with most of the hives being trucked in from other states for that purpose.

What else is in season?

Seasonal availability of produce in Maine varies from week to week and from one farm or farmers' market to the next.

Fresh, Maine-grown blueberries are available from mid July through August.

The following items are also considered widely available statewide as of this date: salad greens, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, snap and wax beans, beets, broccoli, beet greens, eggplant, herbs, leeks, melons, onions, peas, new potatoes, peppers, raspberries, sweet corn, swiss chard, scallions, tomatoes, zucchini and summer squash.

For more info on the seasonal availability of Maine produce, see the chart posted here.

Where to buy fresh, Maine-grown foods in your area:

       Find farmers markets in your area here

         Find farmstands in your area here

        Find CSA farms in your area here

     Find local "pick-your-own" farms here

For more info about the availability of Maine food and farm products, please see: http://www.getrealmaine.com

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