Highbush blueberries grow in clusters and don't all ripen at once. The berries at the bottom of the cluster can be ripe while the ones on top are still green. For the fresh market, blueberries are picked either by hand or with harvesting machines, which gently shake each plant so only the ripe berries fall into the catching frame. Most of the machine-harvested blueberries are frozen immediately for use year round.

Fresh highbush blueberries are available nearly 12 months of the year from producers across the U.S. and Canada, as well as offshore imports, primarily from Chile. The peak domestic season is from mid-June to mid-August, when the majority of all North American blues are harvested. The earliest harvest, in April, is mainly in the southern states and it progressively moves north and into Canada as the season continues.

Highbush blueberries can also be enjoyed year round as frozen, canned and dried fruit, as well as in processed foods.

How to Handle the Blues — Buying and Storage Tips

Fresh Blueberries

Look for fresh blueberries that are firm, dry, plump, smooth-skinned, with a silvery bloom and relatively free from leaves and stems. Size is not an indicator of maturity but color is—berries should be deep purple- blue to blue-black; reddish berries aren’t ripe, but may be used in cooking. Avoid soft or shriveled fruit and any signs of mold. Containers with juice stains indicate that the fruit may be bruised. Refrigerate blueberries as soon as you get them home, in their original plastic pack or in a covered bowl or storage container. Wash the berries just before use. Use within ten days of purchase.

Frozen Blueberries

Frozen, unsweetened blueberries packed in poly bags or boxes can be found in the frozen food section of your supermarket. The frozen berries should feel loose, not clumped together. Frozen blueberries are individually quick frozen so you can remove as many as needed. Blueberries should be kept frozen and the unused portion sealed tightly and returned to the freezer promptly. If not used immediately, cover and refrigerate thawed berries and use within three days. Commercially frozen berries are washed before being frozen and do not need to be washed again. How to Freeze Your Own Blueberries The secret to successful freezing is to use berries that are unwashed and completely dry before popping them into the freezer. Place the berries, still in their original plastic pack, in resealable plastic bags. Or, transfer berries to freezer containers or resealable plastic bags. The berries will freeze individually and you can remove just the portion you need. Rinse home-frozen blueberries just before using.