Chapters 4.66
4.66.Dwarf blueberry (Vaccinium caespitosum)
Caeley Lynch, University of Guelph, Canada
https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/element-images/Rubus-acaulis-4787.jpg
Suggested citation for this chapter.
Lynch,C. (2022) Fleshy Fruits. In The Student Encyclopedia of Canadian Indigenous Foods. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.firstnationsfoods.org/
Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to educate the public about the Dwarf Blueberry, its history, and its potential for the Canadian Agri-food System today. With issues including violations of Indigenous land rights and soil degradation resulting from industrial farming, industry professionals constantly face conflicts regarding the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and the Canadian Agri-Food System (Kepkiewicz & Dale, 2018). By highlighting species such as the Dwarf Blueberry, the Agri-Food System can better support the Indigenous Peoples by recognizing the community’s deep history and agricultural accomplishments within their culture.
Description
To provide an overview, blueberries are a member of the genus Vaccinium, accounting for nearly 450 species, including the cranberry (Silver & Allen, 2012). Three primary species of blueberries include lowbush (Vaccinium angustifolium), rabbiteye (Vaccinium ashei), and highbush (Vaccinium corymbosum), also known as the northern highbush (Silver & Allen, 2012). Vaccinium Caespitosum, or Dwarf Blueberry is a native, lowbush species that grows up to one foot high (Kuhnlein & Turner, 1991). The Dwarf Blueberry is identified by its red/yellow branches and small white/pink flowers (Kuhnlein & Turner, 1991). It produces petite, spherical light/black-blue berries that are coated in a pale, waxy skin (Kuhnlein & Turner, 1991). Lowbush blueberries such as the Vaccinium Caespitosum require stringent management yet are very resilient. They are some of the first plants to grow after a fire (Silver & Allen, 2012).
Lowbush vs Highbush Blueberries
Dusty Zamecnik, General Manager at EZ Grow Farms Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada shares information on the major differences between Lowbush and Highbush Blueberries. Highbush are more commonly found in BC and Southern ON (D. Zamecnik, personal communication, November 8, 2022). Whereas Lowbush requires different growing conditions, such as those found in Northeast provinces (D. Zamecnik, personal communication, November 8, 2022). Mr. Zamecnik also elaborates on how uses are different when comparing Lowbush and Highbush Blueberries (D. Zamecnik, personal communication, November 8, 2022). Lowbush berries are commonly smaller in size, and ideal for jams, ice cream, and other processed products (D. Zamecnik, personal communication, November 8, 2022). Highbush berries are larger, with circumferences about the size of a thumb (D. Zamecnik, personal communication, November 8, 2022). Highbush are mostly eaten fresh from the package; these are the type that customers often find in grocery stores (D. Zamecnik, personal communication, November 8, 2022).
Highbush blueberry production has drastically increased since 1975 (Fig. 2) (Brazeltoni & Strik, 2007). This increase is due to a greater area harvested, improved cultivars, and the advancement of production systems that improve yield (Brazeltoni & Strik, 2007). Over the last 10 years production of lowbush blueberries also has grown (Fig. 2) (Brazeltoni & Strik, 2007). In the early 2000s, there were 69,948 hectares (ha) of lowbush blueberries in North America, this reflects a 33% increase over the past 10 years (Brazeltoni & Strik, 2007). Lowbush blueberries’ popularity increase is due partially to a larger area being managed and to a higher average yield. Yield per hectare has increased with the greater use of bee hives for pollination, improved irrigation, fertilization, and better weed management practices (Brazeltoni & Strik, 2007).
Geographic Origins
Vaccinium species inhabit many different climatic regions around the world with about 26 species occurring within North America (McKechnie, 2010). Dwarf Blueberry shrubs can be found across North America in high-altitude alpine conditions (McKechnie, 2010). They are commonly found growing in Canada and Maine, where the cooler conditions support winter dormancy periods (Silver & Allen, 2012). Naturally occurring Vaccinium Caespitosum shrubs frequently brave rugged conditions, including moist tundra, gravelly or rocky shores and ridges, woods and clearings (Kuhnlein & Turner, 1991). They are typically found at higher elevations (Kuhnlein & Turner, 1991).
In Canada, lowbush Blueberries grow predominantly in North Eastern provinces, with major growers located in Nova Scotia (D. Zamecnik, personal communication, November 8, 2022). The U.S. grew 26,483 ha of lowbush blueberries, with Maine supplying its bulk. Compare this to 43,465 ha found in Canada, with the majority found in Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick (Brazelton & Strik, 2007).
Nutritional Benefits
Blueberries are well known for their nutritional and beneficial health effects (Routray & Orsat, 2011). However, the information behind the physiology of beneficial effects is lacking (Routray & Orsat, 2011). Research has found blueberries have an abundance of health benefits due to their chemical properties, biological properties and major bioactive compounds containing anthocyanins, phenolic acids, ascorbic acid, flavonols, and tannins (Tarkanyi, Bordean, Catargiu & Poiana, 2019). Anthocyanins are particularly important; they are bioactive flavonoid compounds which can fight against numerous chronic diseases (Routray & Orsat, 2011). One study found that due to the high content of anthocyanins, consuming a cup of blueberries a week can lower blood pressure and accelerate metabolism (Tarkanyi, Bordean, Catargiu & Poiana, 2019). Research also demonstrates that lowbush blueberries have some of the highest antioxidant values of all fruits, helping the body liberate free radicals in the blood that can cause disease (Silver & Allen, 2012). Due to their plethora of health benefits, blueberries were recently classified as "super fruits”, gaining the fruit’s new popularity (Tarkanyi, Bordean, Catargiu & Poiana, 2019).
As seen in Figure 3, blueberries are rich in numerous vitamins and minerals. One serving of blueberries can provide almost 25% of the daily vitamin C recommendation, vitamin A, as well as fibre, calcium, iron, and manganese (Silver & Allen, 2012).
Association with Indigenous Peoples
Wild blueberry production is traced to the consumption of native blueberries by animals and Indigenous North Americans (Wood, 2004). Dwarf Blueberries are an important food source for various wild animals, and Indigenous Peoples enjoyed them long before the Europeans first landed in North America. Many Indigenous Peoples believe the berry has healing capabilities. They originally harvested the berries where they grew naturally, in treeless barrens (Wood, 2004). There are many parts of Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces where open barrens still exist, and where burned-over forests offer opportunities for this common Vaccinium Caespitosum to grow (Wood, 2004). On some occasions, it appeared that Indigenous Peoples intentionally burned plots of land for many years (Wood, 2004).
Indigenous Uses
Historically Indigenous Peoples have been extremely resourceful with how they have incorporated the Dwarf Blueberry into meal preparation and consumption. An early record reports that the French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, saw that native people gathered wild blueberries for use during the winter months, dried them in the sun, beat them into a powder, and added the product as a seasoning for soups and stews and curing of meats (Wood, 2004). Tribes such as the Stoney (Assiniboin) of Alberta, the Nlaka'pamux, Okanagan-Colville, and Chilcotin of British Columbia consumed berries fresh, dried, mashed or whole (Kuhnlein & Turner, 1991). Vaccinium Caespitosum fruit was frequently used for trading (Kuhnlein & Turner, 1991).
Berries were harvested with a comb-like wooden tool, a salmon backbone, or simply by hand (Kuhnlein & Turner, 1991). In Quebec, rakes were modelled after bear claws, and pickers beat the berries from the bushes backwards into a pail or basket.
References
1.Brazelton, D., & Strik, B. C. (2007). Perspective on the US and global blueberry industry. Journal-American Pomological Society. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bernadine-Strik 2/publication/282330061_Perspective_on_the_US_and_global_blueberry_industry/ links/560c574108aea68653d3656b/Perspective-on-the-US-and-global-blueberry industry.pdf
2.Kepkiewicz, L., & Dale, B. (2018). Keeping ‘our’ land: Property, agriculture and tensions between indigenous and settler visions of food sovereignty in Canada. The Journal of Peasant Studies, 46(5), 983–1002. https://doi.org/10.1080/03066150.2018.1439929
3.Kuhnlein, H. V., & Turner, N. (1991). Traditional Plant Foods of Canadian Indigenous Peoples: Nutrition, Botany and Use (Vol. 8, Ser. Food and Nutrition in History and Anthropology). Gordon and Breach Science Publishers.
4.McKechnie, I. M. (2010). Propagation methods and the effectiveness of fungal inoculation on Vaccinium species native to central British Columbia. Library and Archives Canada = Bibliothèque et Archives Canada.
5.Silver, B., & Allen, M. (2012). Blueberries. Journal of Agricultural & Food Information, 13(1), 7–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/10496505.2012.639664
6.Tarkanyi, P. C., Bordean, D. M., Catargiu, A., & Poiana, M. A. (2019). Blueberries pleading for health. Journal of Agroalimentary Processes and Technologies.