The wild mountain blue huckleberry, or Vaccinium ovalifolium, is a true treasure of the Great Pacific Northwest. The stunning little blue berries are fit to be the crowning glory of any of Mother Natures golden tiaras. Not only are huckleberries a treat for the eyes, but when raw they have a delicious sweet- tart taste that will leave you wanting more. When cooked into syrups or baked into pies, they have a tantalizingly pure and rich flavor all their own that has been a popular staple among countless American families for generations. The huckleberry is so beloved that the term 'I'll be your huckleberry' came to mean 'I'm the right person for the job', and aslo as a term for a significant other. As if the aforementioned statements weren't reason enough to go out and get yourself some wild huckleberries, they are also incredibly healthy for you. With An ORAC score of 111, these berries rank among some of the most antioxidant rich foods in the world. This means that per cup consumed they pack a much healthier punch than most all other foods and have excellent anti-aging, anti-cancer and pro immune system properties to help both fight off and prevent a plethora of health issues and diseases.

What are huckleberries?

The wild mountain blue huckleberry is a perennial evergreen shrub that usually ranges from 2-3 ft tall but can reach as high as 10. It has 1/2 to 1 1/2 inch serrated leaves that start out red-bronze but turn bright green in the Summer months. During the Spring, small pale pink flowers appear throughout the shrub which give way to small, round blue-black berries in the Summer. The berries are popular with everyone from foragers, to birds to bears, with everyone reveling in the tastiness and healthiness of the berry.

Where do huckleberries grow?

The wild mountain blue huckleberries grow in acidic mountain soils at elevations from 2,000 to 11,000 ft. They can be found all the way from Alaska to Washington and Oregon, to Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. In recent years crops of wild huckleberries have been difficult to find due to the fact that winters have been mild and there has not been much of a snow pack to protect the huckleberries during the winter months. Mild Winters, coupled with earlier Summers recently has meant that often many berries are dry before foragers can get to them. Fear not however! This year there seems to be an excellent snow pack in the mountains which leads us to believe that huckleberry season will be very fruitful! So get your hiking boots on... Or go to www.nwwildfoods.com!

Health Benefits:

• Huckleberries are associated with lowering cholesterol; protecting against heart diseases, muscular degeneration, glaucoma, varicose veins, and peptic ulcers.
• High in vitamin C, Huckleberries protect the body against immune deficiencies, cardiovascular diseases, prenatal health problems, and eye diseases.
• An excellent source of vitamin A and B, huckleberries are great for promoting a healthy metabolism which in turn helps reduce the risk of stroke. They are also known to help stave off macular degeneration as well as viruses and bacteria.
• Huckleberries are an excellent source of iron which helps build new red blood cells and helps fatigue associated with iron deficiency.
• The huckleberry ensures proper functioning of nerve and muscle tissues, such as the heart and skeletal muscles, due to its high content of potassium. It also helps regulate water balance and eliminate waste.

Nutritional Information:

Wild Blue Huckleberry Pie!