Various countries have wild blueberries. Ancient Greeks and Romans used various parts of (some sort of) blueberry plants and fruit medicinally. Historical records on their role in their ancient culture, though, are very scanty(1). Syrup or conserve of bilberries, the nearest blueberry relative in Europe, was used for quenching thirst and fevers in the east side of the Pond(2).
Native Americans believed that the blueberries west of the Atlantic were helpful for coughs and the leaves of the bush as a health tonic(1). Roots became a tea. In northeastern North America, this was the low-bush blueberry, with plants only a foot-ish in height. These berries were small compared to modern ones, but sweeter and are considered way better-tasting. Fog-shrouded, sandy, "well-drained, highly acidic" coastal barrens, often treeless, held naturally-occurring patches. Native peoples were pioneers of the technique of control-burning these wild patches, still done by tribes today. When done every few years, this will fertilize the soil, disencumber the patches of old bushes, and increase yields. Pemmican, the meat-and-tallow travel provision, commonly was one of the foods that included wild blueberries(2).
Explorer Samuel de Champlain was the first to document Native American use of blueberries, in 1615. The berries were plentiful, many were dried for the winter, and they became one of the native foods that were vital to early European colonists. Commercial harvesting didn't happen, though, till the 1840s(2). Despite their well-known cold tolerance, there are also some blueberries that grow even deep into the Southeastern US(1,2). The South actually turned to canning those from their own wild barrens during the Civil War when markets closed for exporting seafood(2). Georgia is actually one of the top blueberry-growing states today, after some northern states(1).
It wasn't till well into the early 1900s when blueberries were developed that could be grown on farms(2).
Important to note: Though blueberries are about the highest source of antioxidants among fruits or veggies(1), wild ones have way higher content of antioxidants and "phytochemicals such as anthocyanin."(2) Non-organic farmed blueberries also have the eleventh-highest toxic pesticide content of 2023 produce crops(3). As of 2018, most wild production was from Maine and some sustainability of harvests needed to be worked out. Wild ones pretty much can't be exported fresh as they don't transport well(2).
References:
1. Malcolm, Patrick A. "History of Blueberry Plants." Pioneer Thinking, Pioneerthinking.com, https://pioneerthinking.com/history-of-blueberry-plants/.
2. Blakely, Julia. "Native Fruit: The Wild Blueberry." Unbound, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives, 13 November 2018, https://blog.library.si.edu/blog/2018/11/13/native-fruit-the-wild-blueberry/#.ZDX4ybrMLD4.
3. "2023 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce: Dirty Dozen." Environmental Working Group, https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php.
Native Americans believed that the blueberries west of the Atlantic were helpful for coughs and the leaves of the bush as a health tonic(1). Roots became a tea. In northeastern North America, this was the low-bush blueberry, with plants only a foot-ish in height. These berries were small compared to modern ones, but sweeter and are considered way better-tasting. Fog-shrouded, sandy, "well-drained, highly acidic" coastal barrens, often treeless, held naturally-occurring patches. Native peoples were pioneers of the technique of control-burning these wild patches, still done by tribes today. When done every few years, this will fertilize the soil, disencumber the patches of old bushes, and increase yields. Pemmican, the meat-and-tallow travel provision, commonly was one of the foods that included wild blueberries(2).
Explorer Samuel de Champlain was the first to document Native American use of blueberries, in 1615. The berries were plentiful, many were dried for the winter, and they became one of the native foods that were vital to early European colonists. Commercial harvesting didn't happen, though, till the 1840s(2). Despite their well-known cold tolerance, there are also some blueberries that grow even deep into the Southeastern US(1,2). The South actually turned to canning those from their own wild barrens during the Civil War when markets closed for exporting seafood(2). Georgia is actually one of the top blueberry-growing states today, after some northern states(1).
It wasn't till well into the early 1900s when blueberries were developed that could be grown on farms(2).
Important to note: Though blueberries are about the highest source of antioxidants among fruits or veggies(1), wild ones have way higher content of antioxidants and "phytochemicals such as anthocyanin."(2) Non-organic farmed blueberries also have the eleventh-highest toxic pesticide content of 2023 produce crops(3). As of 2018, most wild production was from Maine and some sustainability of harvests needed to be worked out. Wild ones pretty much can't be exported fresh as they don't transport well(2).
References:
1. Malcolm, Patrick A. "History of Blueberry Plants." Pioneer Thinking, Pioneerthinking.com, https://pioneerthinking.com/history-of-blueberry-plants/.
2. Blakely, Julia. "Native Fruit: The Wild Blueberry." Unbound, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives, 13 November 2018, https://blog.library.si.edu/blog/2018/11/13/native-fruit-the-wild-blueberry/#.ZDX4ybrMLD4.
3. "2023 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce: Dirty Dozen." Environmental Working Group, https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php.
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