SEATTLE, Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Washington's Blueberry harvest is underway and promises to deliver fresh berries to grocery stores and restaurants across the region through mid-September while processed 'blues' are available year round.
Washington ranks sixth in total U.S. blueberry production with local growers expecting a 20 million pound crop this year, exceeding the 2006 harvest by about 2 million pounds.
Award winning chef, cookbook author and TV personality, John Sarich, says blueberries are great year-round but nothing compares with the refreshing taste of fresh delicious blueberries. "Blueberries can be used in healthy salads, as toppings for decadent deserts and in beverages -- with and without alcohol," he said.
Blueberries have been called one of the top 'super foods' -- loaded with antioxidant compounds, including anthocyanin with health-protecting qualities, which travel through the body reducing free radicals that can lead to cancer and other age-related diseases.
Blueberries are also low in sodium and high in dietary fiber and potassium. A half-cup serving has only 40 calories.
There are 135 blueberry growers in Washington State, with approximately 3,500 acres of farmland devoted to growing blueberries. Most of the blueberries are grown and harvested in Skagit, Clark, Lewis, Snohomish, Thurston and Whatcom counties. However, last year was the first year blueberries started producing in the Chelan, Tri-Cities and Yakima areas of Eastern Washington.
Visit http://www.superblues.org/ for blueberry recipes and a list of local farms selling fresh Washington blueberries this summer.
Washington Blueberry Commission
