Loving the bluesBy Danielle Rose
Make the most of
Florida's short but
sweet blueberry
season with this
rustic tart.
Of New varieties developed by UF allow the berries to thrive across the state
all the fruit this
state is famous
for, blueberries are
often overlooked.
Florida’s blueberry
season is short and
sweet. They are the
first to ripen in the
country and the first to hit markets in
early spring.
Each year Florida growers increase
their share of the blueberry market,
thanks to new varieties developed by
the University of Florida that work well
for our climate. Blueberries require chill
hours or an amount of time a fruit tree
is exposed to cooler temperatures. Since
Florida has a very mild winter season,
these new low-chill blueberry varieties
allow blueberries to grow all over the
state, on farms and in backyards.
Blueberries are popular with home
gardeners not only because the berries
they give are delicious, but also
because they’re a stunning shrub with
pretty foliage all year long. The lovely
bell-shaped flowers are followed by a
rainbow of green, pink, and deep blue
berries that ripen at different times.
They thrive in well-drained, acidic soil,
or areas where pine trees, azaleas, or
camellias do well. If that’s not available
in a garden, they can be grown in
containers in an acidic soil mix. Some
cultivars recommended for this area
include Emerald, Optimus, and Kestrel.
If growing blueberries isn’t an option,
check out local U-pick farms or find
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DANIELLE ROSE PHOTOS
them at markets throughout the
spring. Imported blueberries are often
cheaper, undercutting Florida growers.
That’s because they only pay a tenth
of what Florida farmers do to harvest
them, without the food safety and
environmental standards. Besides that,
the quality of super fresh, local fruit just
can’t be beat.
Blueberries ripen around the same time
as Florida peaches, and I have a recipe
that combines them in one incredibly
tasty dessert. This blueberry peach galette
is a rustic, free-form pie that’s simple to
put together on a sheet pan. It emerges
from the oven with golden, crisp edges
surrounding bubbling fruit, ready to slice
up and top with big scoops of vanilla ice
cream. It’s the perfect way to celebrate
our homegrown fruit this season.
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