Let's talk blueberries: Maine's beloved summer harvest defines the season

By Kendra Raymond

With August well-underway, wild blueberry season has arrived here in Maine. Whether you like to attend festivals, bake blueberry creations, pick your own, or simply purchase fresh berries, there is something for everyone right in our area.

Blueberries are up for sale at a Raymond
fruit and vegetable stand as blueberry
season in Maine is in full swing.
PHOTO BY KENDRA RAYMOND 

Sometimes taken for granted, the availability of this Maine crop is plentiful, and often free to gather. Let’s not forget the health benefits of this superfood. The Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine website highlights the “Power of Blue,” saying that wild blueberries have twice the antioxidants of other blueberries which supports a healthy immune system.

The Wild Blueberries website says, “When it comes to brain food, nothing beats the tase and antioxidant punch of wild blueberries. Born in the cold barrens of Maine, wild blueberries must protect themselves from the forces of nature to survive, causing them to develop a higher anthocyanin content than ordinary blueberries. That hardiness allows then to create a nutritional kick that feeds your brain the good stuff, no matter your age.”

If cultivated varieties and curated picking are just your speed, you could visit a pick-your-own facility where you also have the option of purchasing pre-picked containers.

Local blueberry farm owner Linda May of Crabtrees Blueberries in Sebago says, “We have beautiful blue metal buckets so you get to hear the ‘kerplunk.’”

May explained that blueberry flavors vary.

“We have six varieties, some taste closer to wild. Jerseys and Berkleys are in season right now. The Elliot variety lasts from September to frost,” said May.

If you’re not afraid of putting in some elbow grease, head on over to Claman Wildlife Preserve on Route 302 in Windham where you can pick blueberries to your heart’s content. The Town of Windham website reminds everyone to keep in mind that there is no parking available on site, and most people park along the shoulder of 302. There are plenty of wild highbush plants, just remember to wear long pants.

The lowbush blueberries are plentiful on Hacker’s Hill in Raymond. Be prepared to look along the sides of the paths and even past them. Just remember these berries are located at ankle height and usually emerge in July.

For those who want to skip the collection effort, several local farm stands offer a great selection of pre-picked containers. Aside from businesses, roadside sellers frequently offer pints or quarts of berries for sale.

“The berries pretty much fly off the displays,” says Chipman’s Gray Farm Stand employee Miranda Richards. “Pints of highbush blueberries from the farm in Poland and small wild berries from Warren are popular,” she said, adding that the truck often returns later in the day with a delivery to replenish the stock.

Speaking of collection, a long-time Raymond summer resident picks her blueberries at a spot in her neighborhood that she calls, “Blueberry Fields.” The property is privately owned, and she uses it with permission. Of note is an ingenious contraption that she may or may not have invented. Picture this: a coffee can with holes punched on either side of the top, and twine connecting the two holes. You simply thread twine through, leaving it long enough to wear the contraption like a necklace, freeing both hands for picking. Voila, a ready-made blueberry collection device.

The annual Gray Wild Blueberry Festival is always conducted on the second Saturday in August. The free event features community and fun including a bake off, crafts market, food trucks, live music, and much more. Though the festival has already taken place this year, the annual event is always a worthwhile trip.

With so many ways to use blueberries, the possibilities are limitless. How about trying:

Aunt Sanny’s Blueberry Cake

2 cups flour

½ cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup shortening or butter

2 eggs, beaten

½ cup plus 3 tablespoons buttermilk

1 ½ cups blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the dry ingredients. Cut shortening or butter into mixture. In a separate bowl, beat eggs and buttermilk. Add to dry ingredients. Mix to form a soft dough. Very lightly fold blueberries into batter. Gently spread into 9 x 13-inch pan and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

A day of berry picking can always develop into an adventure. Robert McCloskey’s iconic children’s book “Blueberries for Sal” reminds us, “Although it was a blueberrying day, there was no telling what would happen next.”

Visit the Maine Wild Blueberry Commission website at: www.wildblueberrycommissionofmaine.org

To learn more, check out the Wild Blueberries website: www.wildblueberries.com <