Salinas, CA – Naturipe, the world’s largest producer of fresh blueberries, is geared up to support their grower owners in celebration of National Blueberry Month. The celebration is intended to kick off summer, which is officially blueberry season in the U.S., and highlight the company’s berry-strong crop and health benefits of the superfruit.
Perfectly timed, National Blueberry Month comes as blueberry production ramps up across the U.S. Many Naturipe growers are currently experiencing or preparing to experience peak summer volumes, even those who have been impacted by the West Coast heatwave.
“As the largest producer of blueberries, Naturipe’s growers are all across the U.S,” said Jim Roberts, President of Sales at Naturipe. “Despite the record-breaking heat in the Pacific Northwest, we’re still projecting to have a bountiful harvest this year with just 10% less than the total volume we saw last year. We will still have ample supplies of high quality fresh berries throughout the summer to support strong retail promotions, albeit at slightly elevated pricing.”
Because of Naturipe’s Globally Local™ program, it has family growers all over the U.S. and around the world that provide the best product during their season. This enables Naturipe to offer high-quality blueberries to consumers all year round.
“We have plenty of sweet little gems to enjoy this summer,” says Brian Bocock, Vice President of Product Management at Naturipe. “This year’s blueberries are fantastic quality and are just as fresh, firm, and flavorful as always. We expect to see high demand as blueberries have been gaining popularity among consumers for quite some time,” he continues.
As consumers continue to prioritize health and understand the benefits of fueling their bodies with the right foods, blueberries have quickly become their top choice. In fact, blueberries have become a staple for many households, and as a result, pints are no longer enough. That’s why Naturipe is supplying bigger packs, including 18oz and 2lb clamshells.
“Blueberries are among the most nutrient-dense berries out there. They’re an excellent source of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, and antioxidants,” explains Lori Taylor of The Produce Moms. “There are plenty of studies out there that prove eating blueberries can improve brain and gut health and reduces the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.”
Blueberries are versatile and can be incorporated into breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Eat them as a side, bake them into quick breads or pies, add them to your favorite summertime cocktail, or eat them on their own as a snack.
What better way is there to celebrate National Blueberry Month with Naturipe than to try out the Naturipe kitchen’s all-time-favorite BLUE-tiful, easy homemade No-Churn Blueberry and Toasted Coconut Ice Cream? Follow the recipe below, and you won’t regret it:
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup coconut flakes
- 1 cup Naturipe Blueberries
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups heavy cream
Directions
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Spread coconut flakes on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until coconut turns golden-brown, about 5-7 minutes. Transfer to a dish and set aside to cool completely.
- Meanwhile, add blueberries and sugar to a small saucepan and set over medium heat until sugar dissolves and berries have just begun to burst about 5 minutes. Transfer blueberries to a dish and place in the freezer to completely cool, about 30 minutes, occasionally stirring to help release heat.
- When coconut and blueberries are cooled, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, coconut oil, vanilla, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat cream until stiff peaks form. Fold cream into the milk mixture, then fold in cooled toasted coconut and cooled blueberries. Transfer to a loaf pan and freeze for at least 5 hours or overnight.
Make sure to follow Naturipe on social media for more berry-good blueberry recipes all summer long. You can find us on Twitter and Instagram.
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About Naturipe:
Naturipe is a farmer-owned producer and marketer of nutritious, best tasting, premium berries and avocados that has been an industry leader for more than 100 years producing healthy, deliciously fresh, frozen, and value-added products. Because our diverse grower base shares resources, skills, labor, and knowledge, we are better farmers and, in turn, strengthen the local farm community. Our focus on innovation ensures year-round availability of locally grown and Globally LocalTM conventional and organic fruit.
