Blueberry

The blueberry is a plant that can be grown in every region of Greece. It is valued for its fruit, which is rich in substances beneficial to the human body, including antioxidants and many vitamins. The berries are eaten both fresh and processed.

The blueberry plant can be cultivated throughout Greece, because some varieties need less winter chill while others need more – and Greece has regions suited to all of them. The world's largest blueberry producer is the USA, followed by Canada and then the Netherlands, Poland and Ukraine. Blueberries are blue in colour and can be eaten straight from the bush, or packed and frozen. Besides their wonderful flavour, the substances they contain are reported to support human health, and scientific research suggests they may have beneficial properties in a range of conditions. Blueberries are also used in many products, either as a main or a secondary ingredient, by the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetics industries.