Sullivan Independent News - Ozarks Fruit Review June 11

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Farm
Ozarks Fruit Review June 11
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Jun 11, 2008, 14:59:00

“Blueberries – Better Late than Never!”
by Marilyn Odneal, Horticulture Adviser
MOUNTAIN GROVE, MO – It is almost time to pick fresh blueberries from local growers. Although a little later than usual, we expect a good crop of delicious berries this year. The highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) varieties that are grown commercially in Missouri were originally derived from wild American plants. Elizabeth Coleman White (Miss Lizzie) and Dr. Frederick Coville worked together in the early 1900s to select and propagate only the large fruited wild highbush blueberry plants from the acid soils of the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. Thousands of cuttings were taken from the wild plants and, in 1916, Miss Lizzie and Dr. Coville produced the first commercial blueberry crop. Their initial work has resulted in the big and luscious Missouri blueberries that we enjoy today.
Bob Hershey, who owns and operates Highland Blueberry Farm in southeast Missouri, notes that, just like Miss Lizzie, his customers love the bigger berries. Bob says, “I can't keep my customers away from the Chandler variety with its big berries. If they see the Chandler, they don’t want to pick anything else!”
Another variety that our commercial growers are planting lately is Legacy. According to Mike Wooten of Sunshine Valley Farm in Springfield, “The Legacy plants look good and we grow Chandler as well. Legacy is a variety that has some rabbiteye blood in it, so it is very vigorous.” The rabbiteye blueberry, Vaccinium ashei, is more vigorous and adapted to warmer climates than Missouri, so they are not generally grown here.
Along with Legacy and Chandler, other varieties that are grown or recommended for commercial production in Missouri include Berkeley, Bluecrop, Bluejay, Blueray, Brigitta Blue, Coville, Darrow, Duke, Elliott, Jersey, Lateblue, Nelson, Nui, Ozarkblue, Reka and Sierra. Even though most people like big berries, the small fruited, vigorous, Jersey variety is sought after for those who want smaller berries to use for pies, pancakes and muffins.
No matter what the variety name, blueberries rank among the highest in antioxidants compared with other fruits or vegetables. Antioxidants help protect against diseases such as cancer and heart disease, and they delay the aging process. Blueberries are also reported to reduce urinary tract infections.
So, it’s finally time to start seeking out local blueberries. You can find information on sources of berries near you from the AgriMissouri buyers’ guide on the Web at http://www.agrimissouri.com/buyersguide.html or from PickYourOwn.Org at http://pickyourown.org/MO.htm Good luck in your search and I am sure you’ll agree: when it comes to nutritious, delectable blueberries, it’s better late than never!
For comments or questions, contact Marilyn Odneal via email at MarilynOdneal@missouristate.edu; write to Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station, 9740 Red Spring Road, Mountain Grove, Mo., 65711; or call (417) 547-7500. Visit our Web site at http://mtngrv.missouristate.edu.