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Ripe blueberries ready to pick; photo by Scott Bauer / USDA Agricultural Research Service Image Gallery: Fruits and Veggies; Blueberry Plant.
Blueberry
North Carolina designated the blueberry (genus vaccinium) as the official blue berry of the state in 2001. The strawberry (genus fragaria) was also recognized as the state red berry. Both berries are grown throughout North Carolina and consumers can pick their own berries at farms from one end of the state to the other.
One cup of blueberries supplies 50% of the recommended daily allowance for Vitamin C and 22 percent of the fiber recommended for a healthy diet. There are only 60 calories in a cup of fresh berries and zero grams of fat.
Blueberries and strawberries are important to the agricultural economy of North Carolina. Strawberries brought in over $19 million in 2005 and blueberries over $37 million. According to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, North Carolina was ranked 3rd in the nation in 2006 in strawberry production, and 5th in blueberry production.
