July is National Berry Month!

July is National Berry Month and with so many berries in season why not celebrate the berry!  To celebrate, here are fun berry facts and a few great recipes that highlight the flavor of berries.

How Many Berries Can You Name?

Blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries,  and strawberries grow in the US.  Blackberries are in season from the first part of July through October.  They can be cultivated and they grow in the wild.  It is said, wild blackberries attract bears.

Blueberries are  related to cranberries.  They are native to the US and they are the original snack food.  Native Americans used to smoke and dry blueberries and eat them in the winter months.  Blueberries pack 80 per cup and fresh blueberries can be stored in the refrigerator for 10-14 days.

Cranberries grow in bogs on long slender branches of North American shrub.  Peak picking months for cranberries are September through January.

Raspberries are native to Europe.  While usually red, raspberries can be purple or even white.  When picking raspberries, chose berries that slip off the plant with little resistance as this indicates a ripe berry.  Raspberries keep long when dry.  They were eaten in Italy over 2000 years ago!

To increase the shelf life of strawberries, keep the stem on the berry.  Strawberries with the stem removed tend to lose their firmness more quickly than those with the stem.  To store strawberries place them, unwashed, in a container with a damp cloth on top, then flip the container over.  Only wash the berries in cold water when  you are ready to use them.

Recipes:

Strawberry Shortcake

Blackberry Pie

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Enjoy National Berry Month!

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mukluk/64080481/

July 10th, 2009 by Aspen Streetman | Posted in Uncategorized | (33)