Vaccinium caesariense
- "New Jersey Blueberry" redirects here. It often refers specifically to Vaccinium caesariense. For other uses, see New Jersey Blueberry (disambiguation).
| New Jersey Blueberry | |
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| Vaccinium caesariense | |
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| Genus: | Vaccinium |
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Vaccinium caesariense is a species of perennial plants that is native to the Eastern United States (namely along
its entire coast). It is especially prominent in the New Jersey area, hence its nickname the New Jersey Blueberry. This species, as the name suggests, belongs to the genus Vaccinium, belonging to blueberries, cranberries, and bilberries, all flowering plants or angiosperms. This dicot exhibits a shurb growth habit, meaning this perennial, multi-stemmed woody plant is not likely to grow larger than 5 meters in height, particularly due to its numerous steming arrangements.
Location
This vascular plant is native to the continental 48 states of the United States, excluding Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. It is most commonly found in the following states: Florida, Georgia, Massachussets, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvannia, Rhode Isalnd, South Carolina, Virginia, and most importantly, New Jersey, from which it derives its nickname[1]. New Jersey has developed plenty of environmental groups in order to protect the plant species, including the Blueberry Plant Certification Program and the Phillip E. Marucci Center for BLuebery & Cranberry Research & Extension, to name a few. The New Jersey legislation had the following to offer on its most proceous plant:
"Whereas, The highbush blueberry is indigenous to New Jersey, where it was first cultivated for commercial production, due to pioneering work by New Jerseyan Elizabeth White and Dr. Frederick Covile, who in the early 1900's dedicated themselves to the study, domestication, and breeding of blueberries at Whitesbog, in Browns Mills, New Jersey; and
Whereas, the cultivation of highbush blueberries in New Jersey served as the basis for an entirely new agricultural industry; and
Whereas, Blueberries taste good, are good for you, are high in fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants, are sodium and cholesterol-free, are low in calories and provide medical and health benefits, including the prevention of cancer and heart disease; and
Whereas, Blueberries are appreciated around the world, especially in the area of nutrition and the emerging field of nutraceuticals, where blueberries are known for their health benefits and medicinal properties; and
Whereas, New Jersey ranks second in the nation in blueberry cultivation, producing 21% of the nation's total, with 38 million pounds grown annually on 8,000 acres, spanning seven counties in central and southern New Jersey; and
Whereas, New Jersey is widely recognized as the blueberry capital of the nation, and the highbush blueberry, also known as the "New Jersey blueberry," is the ideal symbol of a delicious, nutritious, and healthful fruit ..."[2]
Background
The New Jersey blueberry is erect in its orientation in order to secure maximum growing potential, particularly given the liability of its bare stem.
During the summer, the plant appears white; however, it loses its leaves in the winter and, in turn, loses this distinct color. The farmers, especially in New Jersey, tend to the fertilize the plants when implanting them, a process that takes approximately 2-3 years near the beginning of Fall (or the end of the Winter). The best organic fertilizer that is recommended when growing these plants is manure or earthworm humus mixed with soil and placed at the foot or tip of the stem [3]. As the plants develop wood, they will need less water and should only be watered when the climate is extraordinarily dry. It is best to add insecticides to those that do not flower, as well as apply fungicide to prevent the development of fungal diseases by these plants, which can spread relatively quickly. Lastly, these plants should be grown in soil that is accomodating to acidophilic plants [4].
History
The blueberry is one of the few fruits eaten in North America that is native to that continent. Native Americans were the first to pick the wild blueberries. Their special use in the plant is its function as a dye, coloring items. It is also known as a medication for ailing stomach issues [5]. The tribes of the Lenape were notorious in their use of the blackberry for these purposes. Early settlers began incorporating the fruit as an ingredient in foods and medicine. Although they are still found growing in nature today, most of New Jersey's blueberries are noted as being cultivated with a hybrid distinction, which is namely highbush in nature. Whitesbog, Burlington County is where the hybrid was first introduced, as developed by Elizabeth Coleman White, the daughter of a renowned cranberry farmer (this is in conjunction with numerous other variations and distinctions). During harvest season, New Jersey farmers set up road-side farm stands and sell these fresh blueberries to individuals that make an annual pilgrimage to this natural eatery. The plants are usually frozen because they do not lose much quality and taste upon thawing. This great tradition is one of the many offerings this plant has to the culture of New Jersey [6].