The Best Addition to Your Grocery Cart: Frozen Wild Blueberries

The common perception is that food loses its natural taste and nutritional value once it’s frozen – but when it comes to Wild Blueberries, that’s not the case. Wild Blueberries are frozen at the peak of ripeness locking in their incredible taste and nutrition. If you didn’t know, 99% of the crop which grows in the cold harsh climate of Maine and Eastern Canada is frozen because these little gems aren’t made to travel far distances. But despite their small size, Wild Blueberries are considered a top antioxidant fruit offering more of what it takes to combat disease and promote healthy aging – making them the perfect addition to your family’s healthy eating regimen.

But don’t take our word for it, trust the facts! During a time of year when everyone is focused on healthy eating goals and becoming the best version of themselves, we’re sharing three fact-based reasons why frozen Wild Blueberries should always make the cut for your grocery cart.

Wild Born and Bred by Mother Nature

Wild Blueberries are different than the ordinary blueberry. Wild Blueberries are much smaller than cultivated berries and grow on low-bush plants about as high as your ankle. Most of the plant is underground in a rhizome root system. This underground root system is how the plant spreads in the fields, called barrens. They are slow-growing (it can take years to fill a small open patch) and not manipulated by those who care for the crop. Fields may contain thousands of different varieties of these tiny berries, ranging in color from light to dark blue and in flavor from sweet, to tart, to tangy. Because the different berries are harvested together, every mouthful is bursting with a more intense blueberry flavor – perhaps the “blueberriest” flavor you’ve ever had. Ordinary blueberries have been modified for larger fruit and higher yields. For example, they’re planted in rows, tend to be taller, grow in most fields, and there may be only one or two varieties per crop. Ordinary berries are found in the fresh produce section, but to experience the incredible flavor experience of Wild Blueberries, you’ll need to look in your supermarket’s frozen fruit section. With all of this in mind, you can rest easy that choosing frozen Wild Blueberries means that you’re following your true North and consuming a naturally grown berry.

Little Berry that Packs a Big Health Punch

For anyone who has tried Wild Blueberries, you’ll instantly notice they’re smaller in size compared to ordinary blueberries. This means that with every bite you get more berries. Every serving of Wild is packed with 21% of your daily fiber (something Americans don’t’ get enough of in their diets), is low in fat, and is an excellent source of manganese, making this tiny berry the perfect nutritional addition to any dish.

Plus, Wild Blueberries have 33% more anthocyanins than ordinary blueberries — giving you a big leg up when it comes to keeping your body and your brain running strong. Why are anthocyanins important you ask? Anthocyanins help protect Wild Blueberries from the damage of ultraviolet light and other environmental stressors. A growing body of research indicates anthocyanins are good for humans, too.

So, what are they? Anthocyanins are found in the dark blue skin of the Wild Blueberry. They’re the plant compound responsible for giving Wild Blueberries the deep, rich purply blue hues and powerful antioxidant capacity. In fact, Wild Blueberries have twice the antioxidant capacity as ordinary blueberries. Although scientists still aren’t sure how or why anthocyanins prevent disease, it has been linked to their antioxidant properties. Two decades of research suggest that anthocyanins may play important roles in helping reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and cognitive decline. Discover some clever ways to introduce Wild Blueberries into your everyday meals.

Four Seasons of Convenience

Wild Blueberries are typically “in season” during the Summer months, but because they are frozen that means you can enjoy their freshness all year round. Research shows frozen fruit is often nutritionally superior to its fresh counterpart and frozen Wild Blueberries are no different.  While fresh blueberries may take 15+ days to make it to a store from the time they’re picked, Wild Blueberries are frozen within 24 hours of harvest. Lucky for all of us, delicious Wild Blueberries can be found all over the country in the frozen fruit aisle of grocery stores year-round. So, when you’re in the store next, head on over and pick up some frozen Wild Blueberries! To learn more, check out our Frozen is Fresher infographic here.

As we head farther into January, all of us at Wild Blueberries are wishing you a season of healthy decisions, delicious foods, and a hint of Wild!