07/02/2026
🫐 Did You Know?🫐
Blueberries are one of the few fruits native to North America. Native Americans were enjoying blueberries long before the first settlers arrived.
Here’s a simple, refreshing blueberry drink that’s perfect for showcasing fresh-picked berries from your farm:
Fresh Blueberry Lemonade
Ingredients
* 2 cups fresh organic blueberries (or thawed frozen blueberries that you put back)
* 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 4–6 lemons)
* ¾ cup honey or sugar (adjust to taste)
* 4 cups cold water
* Ice
* Fresh mint leaves (optional)
* Extra blueberries and lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
1. In a blender, puree the blueberries with 1 cup of water until smooth.
2. Strain through a fine mesh sieve if you prefer a smoother drink.
3. In a large pitcher, combine the blueberry puree, lemon juice, honey or sugar, and remaining water.
4. Stir until sweetener is completely dissolved.
5. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
6. Serve over ice and garnish with fresh blueberries, lemon slices, and mint.
Farm Stand Tip
For a sparkling version, replace half of the water with chilled sparkling water just before serving.
This recipe typically serves 6–8 people and highlights the natural sweetness of freshly picked rabbiteye blueberries.
Yes! Thawed frozen blueberries can actually have a few advantages over fresh blueberries, depending on how they’re used.
Benefits of thawed frozen blueberries
🫐 Nutrients are well preserved
* Blueberries are typically frozen shortly after harvest, which helps lock in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
* Studies show frozen blueberries retain most of their nutritional value, including their powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins.
🫐 May make antioxidants more available
* The freezing process ruptures some of the cell walls in the berries.
* When they thaw, those antioxidants may be easier for your body to access and absorb.
🫐 Available year-round
* You can enjoy blueberries even when they’re out of season without sacrificing much nutritional value.
🫐 Great for smoothies, oatmeal, yogurt, and baking
* Thawed berries become softer and release their juices, making them perfect for mixing into foods.
Any downsides?
* Texture changes. Thawed blueberries won’t be as firm and crisp as fresh-picked berries.
* Some vitamin C may be lost during freezing and storage, but generally not enough to make a significant difference.
* If thawed improperly or left out too long, they can become mushy.
Fresh vs. Frozen
If you’re lucky enough to have fresh, locally picked blueberries from our farm, they’re hard to beat for flavor and texture. But nutritionally, frozen blueberries are very close and may even offer a slight advantage in antioxidant availability after thawing.
So if you freeze some of your harvest for later, you can feel good knowing you’re still getting a very healthy berry when you thaw them out. 🫐
