My husband just brought in over 2 gallons of fresh blueberries from our brother-in-law. I am so excited and will make as much as I can with them while they are fresh. Did you know that blueberries rank second to strawberries in consumption in the U.S. Now is the time to find a nearby you-pick blueberry farm and take your kids on a field trip, if you don’t have your own bushes. Here are some good-to-know facts as you enjoy and preserve blueberries this season.

– It takes about 4 cups to make a pie.
– One pound of fresh berries is about 2 2/3 cups.
– Leave the bag open while blueberries are still warm so moisture
won’t build up…they’ll last longer.
– Refrigerate soon after picking and they will last 10-14 days.
– Freeze without washing and they won’t stick together. You can
then pull them out as needed and it keeps the skins from getting
tough.
– Wash them just before using to keep them firm.
– One cup of blueberries has about 84 calories.
– Blueberries rank number 1 in antioxidants.
– Blueberries are native to America, and American Indians used to
smoke them to preserve them. (Not in a pipe, but over the fire!)