The New Jersey Department of Agriculture highlighted National Blueberry Month earlier this month by distribuing free Jersey Fresh blueberries to beachgoers.
Blueberries were disributed at the end of East Schellenger Avenue at the boardwalk near Morey’s Piers in Wildwood, at the end of New York Avenue on the boardwalk near Rita’s Water Ice in Atlantic City, and along the boardwalk in Seaside Heights.
“This has been a very popular event each of the past two years and we anticipate there will be high demand for delicious and plump Jersey Fresh blueberries,” NJDA Assistant Secretary Joe Atchison said in a statement before the event. “Blueberries are one of the highlights of the growing season here in the Garden State and we look forward to being on the boardwalks again.”
The cultivated blueberry was first grown in New Jersey in 1916 by Elizabeth Coleman White in Burlington County. Blueberries were the No. 1 crop in New Jersey for 2022 with a production value of $69 million, according to the USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service. New Jersey annually ranks in the top seven in the U.S. in the production of blueberries. Farmers in the Garden State harvested 34 million pounds of blueberries on 7,300 acres last year.
The blueberry season for New Jersey lasts through the end of July. During the height of blueberry season, production can be as high as 250,000-300,000 crates per day. Eating blueberries is beneficial to health as they are low in calories and high in nutrients.
Go to www.FindJerseyFresh.com to see where Jersey Fresh blueberries are available locally and to find recipes that include great tasting Jersey Fresh blueberries, including a recipe shared by Chef Marilyn Schlossbach, executive chef and owner of Langosta Lounge in Asbury Park, for a Jersey Peach Summer Salad topped with blueberry mint basil dressing. It’s delicious and a great choice for summer entertaining.
And here’s an unbeatable recipe for blueberry muffins from the folks at Jersey Fresh. Enjoy!
Blueberry Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 Jersey Fresh eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 to 1½ cups Jersey Fresh blueberries|
Directions
1. Sift flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda
2. Cream butter and sugar well
3. Add eggs and beat until smooth
4. Mix in vanilla and sour cream
5. Add sifted dry ingredients and blend
6. Add blueberries gently
7. Line muffin tins with paper liners or grease and flour tins (video uses baking spray with flour)
8. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 – 30 minutes. Bake mini muffins for 18 minutes