One of my favorite breakfasts is Michigan blueberries on top of oatmeal
August 03, 2017
Michigan blueberries from Country Mill Orchard in Charlotte
Look in our basement freezer and you'll see plastic bags filled with Michigan blueberries. This winter they will be little nuggets of tasteful joy on our oatmeal and various desserts and even in salads. That's why we went yesterday to Country Mill Orchard just outside of Charlotte and bought 10 pounds of berries that they had picked. It's three dollars a pound if they pick and two if you pick.
Just so you know, Michigan is the number one blueberry producing state in the country, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture. Other blueberry facts:
-
Michigan leads the nation in growing blueberries and produces more than 30 different varieties
-
Michigan blueberries are grown, harvested and processed by 600 family farms
-
Michigan blueberry production value was reported at $122.7 million in 2013
-
Allegan, Berrien, Muskegon, Ottawa and Van Buren counties comprise the state’s primary blueberry growing region
-
In 2013, 47 million pounds of Michigan blueberries were produced for fresh use while 67 million pounds were produced for processing
-
Michigan has almost 21,000 acres devoted entirely to blueberries
-
Half of the blueberry acreage in Michigan is more than 40 years old, some plantings dating back to the 1930s!
-
Michigan yields an average of 5,000 pounds of blueberries per acre
My wife lets the blueberries dry before putting them in plastic bags.