Wild vs. Cultivated

There are only a few places in the world where blueberries grow wild. These places are rough, rugged, cold and have acidic soil. Wild blueberries like a challenge. They thrive when the weather is extreme and the soil is rocky. They are truly a wild plant. There has been failed attempt after failed attempt to plant them where they have not decided to grow. Their magic is undeniable and they demand that humans offer them respect and receive their gifts on their terms. If you are willing to bow down to their power, the gifts are endless. 

It’s amazing what happens when we let nature be. They reward us immensely. Wild blueberries have over twice the antioxidants as cultivated berries. They are smaller and more nutrient dense. Also, when you are eating wild blueberries you may notice that not all the berries look the same. The color may range from a lighter blue to almost black. The size of the berries may look different as well and if you tasted each individual berry you’ll notice that the flavor ranges tremendously. Those differences in taste, color and size are largely due to genetic diversity. Wild blueberries have no genetic engineering which produces a very diverse crop. So not only do wild blueberries give you more nutrient density, they also give you nutrient diversity. The uniformity of cultivated blueberries results from selective breeding and farming practices which is why your whole container of cultivated blueberries looks the same. Each individual constituent in a wild plant has a purpose and their work together is where the magic resides. If we genetically engineer out some of these constituents, we lose the power of the plant. 

So the moral of the story is always side with nature. The land holds an intelligence that we may never understand. Wild plants are our humble, generous allies and with a little gratitude and respect they will shower us with abundance. 

Want more information on the difference between wild and cultivated blueberries? Check out this great article by Wild Blueberries of North America.