Cultivated fresh Blueberries are the variety usually found in the grocery store. Blueberries selected should be firm, plump, nourished berries in dry, unstained containers. The berries themselves should be free of moisture, as moisture accelerates decay. Color is the best indicator of blueberry maturity and fully developed flavor, so avoid blueberries that are green, and thus immature. Blueberries should be a deep, purple-blue to blue- black color with a whitish, dusty looking skin. They should be round, plump and marble- sized. Reddish berries are not ripe, but may be used in cooking.
Strawberry history goes back over 2,200 years ago. It is thought that the name “strawberry” came from the practice of growers spreading a layer of straw around the plants when the berries began to form, or from the sellers who strung strawberries on pieces of straw to carry them to market. The 600 strawberry varieties found today stem from five or six original wild species, and are members of the rose family. Strawberries are very unique, because they are the only fruit with seeds on the outside. Strawberry plants make great groundcover in flowerbeds, or edging in the vegetable garden.