Few people would guess that blueberries are in the same family as azaleas and rhododendrons. And few would guess that this seemingly simple little berry is probably more jam-packed (pardon the pun) with nutrients, especially antioxidants, than just about any other component of your fruit salad. But both of these things are true!

The low-bush variety of blueberries, only as tall as one's ankles, grows wild in Northeastern USA and Canada. These bushes produce delicious tiny berries, which are only available locally within a short radius of where they are grown. Most of the commercially available blueberries found in the rest of the country are from the high-bush variety, which grows more abundantly and is easier to ship.

How did this predominantly wild berry come to be cultivated? In the early 1900s, a New Jersey woman named Elizabeth White fostered the cultivation of blueberries, by holding bush specimen contests. Apparently, this had a strong encouraging effect, and today, almost all blueberry varieties sold in the United states can be geneticallly traced to her work. Blueberries have a very specific season in North America–60% of the crop is harvested between mid-May and mid-August. Recently, Chile has been importing to the U.S. during the winter months.

BUYING AND STORING TIPS: Ripe blueberries should be plump, clean, dry, deeply colored, and pleasantly tinged with a powdery complexion. Overripe berries will appear dull, soft, watery, or moldy. Don't buy blueberries if their container is stained or leaking, as this usually indicates crushed or moldy berries within. Refrigerate after buying them, but don't wash them until just before use. Once chilled, blueberries will stay good for10 days to 2 weeks. They freeze well... just spread them out on a tray and put it in the freezer for about 30 minutes, so they'll freeze as separate units. Then transfer them to a sealable plastic bag and return them to the freezer. They'll keep there for months.

NUTRITIONALLY SPEAKING: Blueberries might be diminutive, but they're a nutritional giant, containing iron, vitamins A and C, fiber, carotenoids, antioxidents, and anthocyanosides. There is a possibility that regular consumption of blueberries (some say 1/2 cup a day) can reduce various signs of aging. Blueberries are good for the eyes–they have been shown to improve night vision and may also protect against cataracts and glaucoma. In addition to all this, folk medicine has it that blueberries are good for treating stomach ailments. What busy overachievers these little berries are, lucky for us!