Maine State Foods

Blueberry STATUS Official YEAR DESIGNATED 1992 THE FOOD Blueberries Blueberries, members of the Vaccinium family, are small, smooth-skinned, juicy, and sweet. They are among world’s few naturally blue foods. When cooked, they take on a deep purple color. This fruit is native to the United States. Different varieties grow in different regions, though all grow well in wooded areas with damp, acidic soil. Blueberry bushes can be up to 13 feet (4 m) tall. Blueberries are sold fresh, frozen, canned, and dried. Though fresh berries are popular in season—eaten plain, in fruit salad, or with ice cream or whipped cream—they are much more often cooked in pancakes or muffins, pies, jams, jellies, and sauces. THE SIGNIFICANCE Maine's wild blueberries grow naturally in fields and uncultivated land from the state’s eastern corner to its southwest. The area's Native Americans used these berries for food as well as medicine. Commercial harvesting of Maine's blueberries started in the 1840s and now the state has nearly 60,000 acres of blueberries. Growers use the blueberries native to Maine, so these are a low-maintenance crop that's naturally resistant to most local pests. The berry is harvested in August, when dozens of blueberry festivals take place around the state. Potato STATUS Unofficial THE FOOD Potatoes A potato is a Solanum tuberosum tuber, which grows underground. Most potatoes are bumpy rounds or ovals with a thin, brown skin and white flesh, but red-skinned varieties are also common. Yellow-fleshed varieties that have a more buttery taste are also cultivated, as are a few with a deep purple-blue throughout. Different varieties vary in size considerably, from less than 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter to up to 6 inches (15 cm) long. Some potatoes have waxy flesh and are best boiled, while others cook to a soft texture and are better baked or mashed. Generally, potatoes are bland and starchy, usually served as a side dish with meat. Boiling, baking, and frying are all common cooking techniques. Potatoes are usually dressed or combined with butter, cream, milk, cheese, or oil. THE SIGNIFICANCE Potatoes are Maine's most important agricultural crop, and the state ranks eighth in the country in potato production. Maine currently has over 600 potato farms. Potato growing has been a cornerstone of the state's economy for two centuries. Aroostook County is the heart of Maine's potato country and host of the Maine Potato Blossom Festival, an annual event for more than 50 years. -World Trade Press