BLUEBERRY PODCAST
TRANSCRIPT
[Running time: ~1:48]

Yes, Americans have truly found their thrill in blueberries. In fact, it’s the second most popular berry consumed in the United Sates. And you can thank the USDA for that. 

Hi, I’m Jay Green with the Agricultural Research Service or ARS … the chief scientific research agency of the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

Blueberries are mainly native to North America, and lauded for their health benefits. More than likely, the blueberries you eat today can be traced back to varieties developed by ARS scientists, who started a breeding program on wild blueberry plants in the early 1900s. 

Although it’s been more than 100 years since ARS scientists began their blueberry quest, they continue their longstanding goal to improve this nutritious, low-calorie fruit. 

One way is by researching mummies--not the kind found in Egyptian tombs--but mummified blueberries that got that way because of a disease called mummy berry. But being mummified is not the main concern for blueberries grown in the South. The focus there is on fruit splitting, which is caused by pre-harvest rainfall. 

ARS scientists are dealing with these problems and others to help improve the quality of blueberries, so we can enjoy them for many centuries to come. Scientists are developing new varieties, finding new predictors of diseases, and searching for genetic markers that predict how well plants produce this great-tasting fruit. 

So, if you’re not on the blueberry bandwagon yet, hop onto our Web site at www.ars.usda.gov/news to learn about specific ARS research with blueberries. That's our podcast. Make sure you pick up some blueberries today. I think you’ll find them … “thrilling!”