Blueberries

You can't go far in New England without being offered blueberries. If there was a State Fruit, in Maine it would be the blueberry, but they would have to fight New Hampshire over it. Vermont seems to be the Maple Syrup State so they don't need to contend and I hear they grow good bagels in New York.

If I had to award the points, I'd say that Maine wins the wild blueberry prize but New Hampshire grows really good cultivated varieties, so maybe it's a draw. But, hold on there! There's no way that Mainers would accept sharing anything with the New Hampsters so to clinch the deal, Maine definitely has the biggest blueberry. If you want proof, you can see it on YouTube or on the web. Look up Wild Blueberry Land Columbia, Maine. It is so big there is a shop inside and an amazing photo opportunity is to be had in the loo.

Actually, Maine is the biggest producer of wild blueberries in the USA and, if you also include the farmed ones, it grows 15% of the US crop.

Apart from all that, we really enjoyed being taken by Lexi, our native NH guide, to an organic fruit farm near Londonderry. The bushes are grown under nets, just like currants and raspberries in Scotland. They grow surprisingly tall and are very productive but it still takes a long time to fill a bucket with berries; probably more time than it takes to eat them.

Once you have them in your fridge, the clock starts ticking. You have to eat them all before they turn to mush. We just put a bowl out on the counter and dig-in like bears but if you are more patient and sophisticated, you can make blueberry pies, pancakes, muffins, smoothies, porridge, or whatever. The cooked item is a different experience to eating the fresh ones. They swell and pop and acquire a syrupy, smoky taste. Either way; Enjoy!