Since blueberries are in season, I am only buying the fresh ones. They are so good, I don’t even bother eating them with anything else.

These blueberries are from British Columbia blueberries. I found them at our local supermarket. Very plump and tasty.

According to the BC Blueberry Council, British Columbia has close to 17,000 acres of rich fertile farmland ideal for growing blueberries. This makes British Columbia the largest producer of high bush blueberries in Canada and the second top producing region in the world.

Blueberries have gotten lots of attention since being named as one of “superfruits”. Blueberries can help slow down the aging process and reduce cell damage. They are also beneficial to your heart health and brain function.

Here is a list of studies on the benefits of blueberries:

According to a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry - wild blueberries are higher in antioxidants than it’s cultivated cousin.

1998 Rutgers University study found blueberries (like cranberries) help treat urinary tract infections.

I’m starting to think any fruit with the deep dark skin or color are all very for your health. Especially purple Acai, purple plums and purple grapes.

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Summer is officially here and it’s starting to feel like it. Despite the heat wave, there are a few things I do love about summer. One of them is the vast amount of fruits that are in season. And June and July is definitely cherry season for us in California.

So this weekend I had my fair share of ripe cherries. Two different type of cherries too, the Bing and Rainier. The Bing is deep red to almost purple in color. They are a bit more tart but still really good. But the Rainier cherries are the best, I think they are definitely the queen of cherries.

The Rainier cherries aren’t as abundant as the Bing varieties, but are still very popular. They are much bigger and more plump then other types of cherries. 

The flesh is mostly yellow and have a pinkish blush on the skin.  But don’t let the color fool you, since these are super sweet cherries. Any kid who’s eaten these would prefer them over candies.

Rainer cherries got their name from the monarch mountain of the Cascade Range. They are a cross between the Bing and the Van, two sweet varieties of cherries. Harold Fogle of Washington State Universiy first crossed the two varities in 1952.

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