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Crop Report
Parks Blueberries are now completely harvested for the 2007 crop.
We have frozen about 1/3 of our marvelous harvest of delicious sweet blueberries. And we have our freezer filled with these blueberries to keep you supplied with beautiful blueberries for the next 10 months.
Parks FALL RASPBERRY HARVEST will BEGIN Aug.29/07 and continue until frost (usually until after Thanksgiving)
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Thank you for your interest in PARKS BLUEBERRIES & COUNTRY STORE – BAKERY, GIFTS, & GOOD EATING.
Please remember to call for a crop report before you come for a visit.
Our Crop Report Line is
866-901-5373
Gift Shop, Bakery and
Restaraunt Hours
9 am - 6 pm
Open 7 Days a Week!
E-Mail - bill@parksblueberries.com
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Blueberry Facts
| Just
the facts!!! |
Its
good to know that something that looks and tastes as great as a blueberry
is also very good for you. Of all the berries, blueberries rank first in
Vitamin A and second in food energy. They contain Vitamin C and iron, as
well as being an excellent source of calcium, phosphorous, and potassium
to your diet. Blueberries are also naturally high in fiber. And importantly,
The Cancer Research Society has rated blueberries number one in fruits and
vegetables that contain cancer-fighting antioxidants which may lower your
risk of developing the disease.
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Antioxidants
are natural substances found in fruit and vegetables which neutralize
frefound in fruit and vegetables which neutralize free radicals
or unstable oxygen molecules associated with cancer, heart disease,
and the effects of aging.
Blueberries
get their anitoxidant attributes from natural compounds (phytochemicals)
and pigments called anthocyanins which are responsible for making
blueberries 'blue'. According to research conducted by USDA's Center
on Aging at Tuft's University, blueberries top the list of some
40 fruits, juices, and vegetables in thier antioxidant activity.
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Care
of your Blueberries
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| As
with any fruit the more you handle it the more you damage it, so handle
gently with TLC and refrigerate as soon as possible. In case you didn't
know blueberries don't require any peeling, stemming, coring, or pitting,
so they are ready to eat off of the bush.
If you are going to freeze them DO NOT wash or add sugar
until you're ready to eat. Wait, why shouldn't I wash my blueberries?
Little known fact.. That powdery blue coating on a blueberry so many people
think is spray/pesticide residue, well it isn't. The powdery blue coating
is natural wax that blueberries have. It is called "bloom,"
and wash off this wax and you'll freeze a blue BRICK. By not washing the
wax remains on the berry and lets thing the wax remains on the berry and
lets the berries individually freeze so you'll have little blue marbles
(read blueberries) when you go to use them.
For those berries that don't make it to the freezer, they
should stay in excellent condition for about 10 days post harvest and
be reasonable for nearly 15 days. One of the nice side benefits to growing
blueberries is I have a great breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack and brunch
in season.
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| Picking
Technique |
| There
is a technique ever so simple to picking blueberries. Blueberries don't
ripen all at once, a bush usually is picked 3 or 4 times in a season. An
unripe berry will not ripen ever, so if you pick a slightly sour under-ripe
berry that's all you will have. The way to ensure you get only sweet ripe
fruit is easy, use your thumb and forefinger and roll the berries off. Ripe
berries will nearly leap into the pail and the under-ripe will stay on the
bush. This is great fun for the family, a nice relaxing time in the countryside
under sunny skies. It's also where you'll see firsthand that the wax does
exist, as you'll leave with blue colored fingers! This washes off easily,
so don't worry ;)
Our Fresh Blueberries are normally in
season
between July 20 and September 1
Frozen Blueberries are available
May 1 to Dec 24. We sell frozen blueberries in the following
sizes
•1lb. plastic bags
•2lb. plastic tubs
•5lb. boxes
•2-5lb. boxes (10lb.)
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