Sunday, April 28th is National Blueberry Pie Day, marking the beginning of the annual pie-making season.
It’s unclear when this observation began, but many consider it a good excuse to enjoy a delicious blueberry pie (ice cream is optional).
Need some “food for thought” to celebrate?
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Here are five facts about this sweet treat starting April 28th.
1. Blueberry pie was invented in the 19th century
According to the New England Historical Society, “blueberry pie” was first mentioned in 1829 and may have appeared in an 1850 cookbook, although details are unclear.
National Blueberry Pie Day is celebrated on April 28th of each year. (Denver Post/Cyrus McCrimmon)
According to the New England Recipes website, the first recorded recipe for berry pie was in the 1872 Appledore Cookbook.
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The recipe called for “two spoonfuls of sugar” and said the pie recipe was suitable for all types of berries, including blueberries.
2. Wild blueberries are native to North America.
Wild blueberries are one of the few commercial crops native to North America.
The University of Maine’s website about wild Maine blueberries says they have been cultivated for thousands of years.
Blueberries are harvested using a tool called a rake. (Jon Patrikin/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)
According to the University of Maine, the Wabanaki Indians planted the first large-scale blueberry fields and introduced the blueberry crop to English settlers in the 17th century.
3. Blueberry pie is Maine’s official “state dessert”
Eighteen states have an official “state dessert” or “state pie,” but only Maine has chosen to honor blueberry pie.
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In 2011, state lawmakers changed the term “blueberry pie made with Maine’s wild blueberries” to They voted to name it the state’s dessert.
(As a compromise, the whoopie pie was named the “state treat.”)
“Blueberry Pie Made with Maine Wild Blueberries” was selected as Maine’s “State Dessert” in 2011 after debate in Congress. (Gabe Souza/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)
Maine honors its blueberry farmers each year during Wild Blueberry Weekend, usually during harvest season in August.
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“Last year alone, Maine farmers harvested 77.5 million pounds of wild blueberries,” Maine Governor Janet Mills (D) said in a 2023 press release.
“And we know that these wild blueberries are healthier, contain more antioxidants than cultivated blueberries, and taste better than any other type of blueberry in the world.”
4. The Civil War helped popularize blueberries.
During the Civil War, many Union soldiers were given blueberries for the first time.
Until then, blueberries were primarily eaten only by people in New England, where the plants were cultivated.
Until the beginning of the Civil War, blueberries were not widely consumed outside of New England. (Scott Suchman/Washington Post)
Wild blueberries were shipped from Maine to Union soldiers, who liked them so much that they brought them back to their home states.
According to the New England Historical Society, the canned wild blueberry business developed after the war, making the fruit more accessible to lovers of the newly minted blueberries.
5. Blueberries may help your memory.
The Wild Blueberry Association of North America (WBANA) website states, “Wild blueberries contain 33% more blue-purple anthocyanins and twice the antioxidants than regular blueberries, which contribute to brain health.” ing.
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According to WBANA, numerous studies have found that regular consumption of blueberries can help reverse cognitive decline in older adults, and there is also evidence that anthocyanins in blueberries can slow brain aging. It is shown.
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Other studies have shown “significant positive effects on memory, decision-making, reaction time, concentration, and mood” in children who consumed blueberries, according to WBANA.
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