 The blackberry, plump and sweet, is closely related to the raspberry but is larger and juicier, with a grainier texture and a more assertive flavor. The core does not separate from the fruit. Although blackberries grow wild in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, they're Asian in origin.
Health Benefits: They are rich in vitamin C and pectin.
 Not too juicy and not too sweet, it is no wonder that the delectable blueberry is the second most popular berry after the strawberry. Because of its superior shipping properties, the blueberry is a sizeable business in the northeastern states, especially Maine. The United States produces 95 percent of the world's blueberry crop. This Native American plant is related to the huckleberry and cranberry.
Health Benefits: Blueberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese and a good source of vitamin A. Blueberry leaves effectively lower high blood sugar in adult-onset diabetes.
Use: Fresh or frozen, blueberries are a colorful and tasty addition to cakes, shortcakes, pies, cobblers, preserves, and syrup. They dry well and are used in numerous prepared foods. Blueberries darken if stored in a metal container, and if combined with excessive alkaline (like baking soda), the berries turn a greenish blue.
 As fate would have it, the most delicious fruit of the temperate climate is also the worst traveler. The sweet and tart raspberry is so fragile that it turns to pulp if simply held in the hand too long. This makes local raspberries an expensive and rare summer fruit.
Health benefits: Raspberries contain ample pectin to thicken homemade jam. They provide vitamins A, C, and some B-complex and minerals.
Use: A sprinkling of fresh raspberries is an elegant garnish for desserts and fruit dishes. Raspberry vinegar, chocolate-covered raspberries, raspberry corn muffins…these bright berries enliven all types of dishes. Among jam connoisseurs, raspberry remains unsurpassed. If you’ve extra raspberries, freeze them in a single layer on a jelly-roll pan. Once frozen store in a plastic freezer bag in the freezer.
Buying: Raspberries that are fresh should be brightly colored, plump, and well mounded. If the green cap is intact, a raspberry is immature and will never become sweet. If the color is dull, or if the package is stained, or if the fruits are leaking, the berries are over mature. Refrigerate and use within 24 hours.
 The strawberry is an ancient plant that grows wild throughout Europe and North America. It is an unusual fruit that its seeds are embedded on its surface. At their best, strawberries have a musky aroma and are sweet but acidic, almost pineapple like flavor. They are plump, juicy, and soft as a baby’s cheek. California provides 80 percent of the nations fresh and frozen strawberries.
Health Benefits: Strawberries provide vitamin A, as much vitamin C as oranges, and some B-complex vitamins, as well as silicon, some potassium, and fiber.
from Rebecca Wood's The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia |
