Blueberries : Harvesting Methods, Antioxidant Properties & Health Effects

According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) statistics, from 1970 to 2011 the world production of blueberries increased approximately 7 times (FAOSTAT, 2012). According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the United States is the world leading producer of blueberries, being the second most produced and commercialised small fruit in the country after strawberry. There are three main groups of blueberries commercialised and produced in the world: the lowbush, the highbush and the Rabbiteye (RASEIRA e ANTUNES, 2004). The high amount of bioactive compounds present in both the pulp and in the peel of the blueberries, makes it a fresh fruit rich in natural antioxidants. This book discusses the harvesting methods, antioxidant properties and health effects of blueberries.