SCINTRO Fruitbook -- Blueberry


Description Nutritional Value Health Benefits Varieties Botanical Facts Select and Store Uses Nutrition Chart Web Reference

Blueberry    Description Top of Page

FAMILY: Ericaceae

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Vaccinium myrtillis

COMMON NAME: Blueberry

Blueberries are small round to oval fruit with bluish smooth skin and have a powdery, silver-white bloom on the skin. Blueberries are prized for its sweet taste and flavor.
The size of the blueberry varies from the 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch in diameter.

Blueberry    Nutritional Value Top of Page

Blueberries are excellent antioxidants.
Blueberries are good source of vitamin C

Blueberry    Health Benefits Top of Page

Phytochemical Anthocyanin which gives its blue color is an excellent antioxidant,which prevent cancer and heart disease.
Blueberries may help prevent urinary tract infection and to improve eye sight.

Blueberry    Varieties Top of Page

Three types of blueberries high bush, low bush and rabbit eye are there.
Nearly 50 varieties of blueberries are there. Patriot, Elliott, Blue Crop, Duke, Berkeley are some popular varieties.

Blueberry    Botanical Facts Top of Page

Blueberry is a perennial plant. It grows to about 4 to 6 feet high at maturity. Like apple blueberries also require a period of dormancy from 800 to 1000 chilling hours between 32F and 45F for triggering the development of vegetative buds and flower. Blueberry plants flower in the spring. Fruit development occurs for about 2-3 months after bloom.

Blueberry    Select and Store Top of Page

Blueberries with clean and good blue skin are good. They should be plump and fresh in appearance. They may be covered with bloom. Store them in cool places. Blueberries will keep in the refrigerator for two to seven days. Wash the berries just before using them.

Blueberry    Uses Top of Page

Fully ripened blueberries taste good to eat raw. Blueberry jam, muffins,pies are always to be the most favourite.

Blueberry    Nutrition chart Top of Page

* Amount in 100 grams of edible portion

ENERGY (kilocalories) 57

WATER(grams) 84.21

FAT(grams) 0.33

PROTEIN(grams) 0.74

CARBOHYDRATES(grams) 14.49

FIBER(grams) 2.4

VITAMINS

Fat Soluble:

Vitamin A (mcg-RAE) 3

Vitamin D -

Vitamin E (mg) 0.57

Vitamin K (mcg) 19.3

Water Soluble:

Vitamin C (mg) 9.7

Vitamin B
Riboflavin (mg) 0.0.041

Pyridoxine(B₆) (mg) 0.052

MINERALS(mg)

Calcium 6

Iron 0.28

Magnesium 6

Phosphorus 12

Potassium 77

Sodium 1

Zinc 0.16

Copper 0.057

Manganese 0.336

Blueberry    Web reference Top of Page

US Highbush Blueberry Council

North American Blueberry Council

B.C. Blueberry Council

The Northwest Berry & Grape Information Net