I love blueberries! They truly are one of nature’s “super foods.” They are loaded with antioxidants, they help aid in digestion and help to keep a healthy urinary tract. They are a natural antidepressant, and although they are filled with natural sweetness, they are fairly low on the glycemic index. (This is just a funny way of saying they won’t mess with your blood sugar levels). There are a host of other beneficial qualities in blueberries. Check out the who.org’s article about this super food. But the best thing about blueberries is that they taste delicious and they are super versatile! You can eat them raw, add them to your yogurt, smoothies, or breakfast cereals. You can add them to pancakes, muffins, and other baked goods. They also freeze really well (and sometimes even make a great frozen treat by themselves!) Keep reading to see where this batch of beauties came from. |
July and August are the perfect time to enjoy fresh blueberries because that’s when they are in-season here in Ontario. I took a trip to Kusterman’s Family Farm today in Mount Brydges, Ontario. They have an amazing U-Pick operation, and loads of fun for families or school groups. Check out their website HERE. It was really great to meet and hang out with a few of the Kustermans themselves (Clare, Colleen, Sean, and Farmer Steve). I learned a little bit about how the farm started and how it has expanded to a pretty impressive operation over years of hard work and dedication. It’s really a great privilege and treat to be able to know the source, and growing practices, of the food we eat. In his book In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan encourages eaters to shake hands as much as possible with the people responsible for putting food on our tables. In other words, try to have as short a chain as possible between the origin of your food, to when it reaches your plate. I think that’s great advice! |
I’m planning to freeze most of these so that I can enjoy fresh blueberries throughout the winter. To be honest, I’ll probably visit the farm again to get even more because as I said earlier, blueberries are super versatile. I have a feeling those 7 lbs will go very quickly this winter!
Check out some more pictures from my blueberry picking fun, and if you ever find yourself in Southwestern Ontario, be sure to pay a visit to Kustermans Family Farm! Even if you can’t visit them directly, check out their website for more health benefits of blueberries and how to store them HERE.