To celebrate Maine’s Bicentennial, thus far this month we’ve shared fun facts about Maine’s state soft drink, Moxie, and official treat, Whoopie Pies. Today we turn our attention to Maine’s state fruit, the Wild Blueberry!

Now when we say, “wild,” we truly mean wild! There are approximately 60,000 acres of this completely wild and natural crop grown commercially in Maine. Wild Blueberries are one of North America’s oldest native berries, and have thrived under the harsh growing conditions of Maine for over 10,000 years. Hardy, rugged Wild Blueberries flourish in the thin glacial soils and cooler northern climate of Maine. Wild Blueberries also grow best in acidic soils. So whereas other crops have trouble here, Wild Blueberries thrive. In fact, Wild Blueberries are one of only three berries native to North America. Therefore Native Americans have been using these tiny berries, both fresh and dried, for their flavor, nutrition and healing qualities for centuries.

In fact, Native Americans say that blueberries’ origins are out of this world. According to legend, during the time of starvation, the Great Spirit sent these “Star Berries” down from the heavens. The proof is at the top of each Wild Blueberry is the base of its earlier flower, a calyx, in the shape of a star. However, despite their celestial origins, two-thirds of each Wild Blueberry bush is located underground, which is how they spread. In fact, a single plant can be the size of a football field! According to scientists, every shoot and berry within that plant is a genetically identical, clone of its neighbors. Yet if you examine a blueberry barren, you’ll find that each plant has a slightly different flavor, color, or size. This variety is why Wild Blueberries are more flavorful than cultivated blueberries.

Speaking of cultivated berries, Wild Blueberries grow where they want to grow. Transplanting Wild Blueberry bushes is not easy, and when successful the cultivated blueberries are less flavorful and are not as nutritious. Yet cultivated blueberries are easier to grow worldwide. So don’t be fooled by the bigger size of the cultivated blueberries often sold in stores. Wild Blueberries are smaller and contain more of the powerful antioxidant anthocyanin and demonstrate greater antioxidant capacity per serving than cultivated blueberries. In fact, a half cup serving of Wild Blueberries has more of the antioxidant power to help fight cancer, heart disease, short-term memory loss and other effects of aging than many other fruits and vegetables!

Now if you’re not as fortunate as us to live in the great state of Maine, don’t worry! Within hours of being picked, Maine’s Wild Blueberries are sorted, cleaned, processed, and flash frozen at their peak, using state-of-the-art technology to preserve their flavor, quality and antioxidant goodness. In fact, Maine produces between 80 to 100 million pounds of Wild Blueberries annually. Yet most of these berries are still harvested by hand, using wooden berry rakes similar to the ones that were first invented in 1910. A regional favorite, Wild Blueberries weren’t commercially harvested until the Civil War, when they were canned and used to feed the Union Army. After that, the popularity of the berry spread across the country and beyond. Today, Maine’s Wild Blueberries are sold around the world.

As with other Maine staples they are celebrated with annual festivals. However, unlike Moxie and Whoopie Pies that have just one festival each, Wild Blueberries are celebrated across the state during the month of August. For those who can’t wait until August to celebrate Maine’s state fruit, please visit the Maine Wild Blueberry Museum to learn more about this super fruit!