Dennick FruitSource is the supplier many food industry leaders trust to deliver blueberry processed fruit ingredients. As popular as blueberries are as a commercial food ingredient, many people do not know when they were first grown commercially in the U.S.
Native to North America, blueberries have been commercially grown and canned since the 1860s. There are two main varieties of blueberries: high-bush, which can grow up to 15 feet high, and the hearty low-bush variety, which grow to only about 1 foot high and are known as “wild” blueberries. When mature, the blueberry is sweet, with varying degrees of acidity.
Blueberries are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, which may help prevent heart disease and cancer. Blueberries also contain vitamin K, dietary fiber, and manganese.
To add nutritional value, blueberry juice or purees can be added to processed foods, beverages, desserts, yogurts, ice creams, baked goods and other food products.