RED, WHITE AND BLUEBERRY STEW’S CELEBRATES NATIONAL BLUEBERRY MONTH |
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| NORWALK, Conn., July 1, 2004 - Locally grown, low in calories and named one of the top 10 best foods to eat by leading nutritionists, it’s no wonder blueberries have an entire month commemorated to this little purple powerhouse. | |
 July
is National Blueberry Month, when locally grown Jersey blues are at
their peak. During the summer season, Stew Leonard’s sells only
New Jersey blueberries, which are typically more plump and juicy than
berries from other areas.
“Blueberries are one of our top-selling items in produce. This summer, we’ll sell nearly 400,000 pints of blueberries,” said Scott Varanko, Produce Manager at Stew Leonard’s Norwalk store. “To keep up with demand, Stew Leonard’s receives daily deliveries of blueberries, so customers can be assured that the berries they buy have been picked within 48 hours of their purchase.” Scott recommends customers buy berries that have an even, firm coloring, since they don’t ripen once picked. Another insider tip is to look for blueberries that have a slightly dusty look to them - this is called a bloom. The bloom protects the berries from the sun and remains on the berries for a week after they are picked. Seeing the silvery-white covering ensures the blueberries are at their peak of just-picked freshness. Blueberries should be stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 days,
and washed just before eating. |
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| Sales of Stew Leonard’s blueberries have increased 20 percent over the last few years. One reason for their rise in popularity may be the recent attention on the health and nutritional benefits of blueberries. | |
| The U.S. Department of Agriculture ranks blueberries No. 1 in antioxidant activity, compared to 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables. Blueberries purple color indicates they are rich in anthocyanins and ellagic acid - powerful cancer fighting and anti-aging compounds that have also been found to improve memory function. In addition, nutritionists from leading hospitals were asked to name their top 10 foods - and blueberries came out on the top of the list for their disease-fighting capabilities. | |
| One cup of blueberries contains 80 calories, 5 grams of dietary fiber and is a good source of Vitamins C and A, potassium and folic acid. | |
| Stew Leonard’s blueberries are on sale for $1.69 a pint or two
pints for $3.00. Here is one of Stew Leonard’s Executive Chef George
Llorens favorite recipes featuring blueberries: The vibrant red, white, and blue colors of this salad make it a perfect Fourth of July offering. Fresh fruits come to life with the simple addition of lime or lemon juice and fresh mint. |
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| All-American Fruit Salad (from Stew Leonard’s Fresh Flavor Fast to be published October 2004) | |
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| In a large bowl, toss together the watermelon, blueberries, mint, and
juice. Toss to coat well and let stand for at least 30 minutes, or cover
and refrigerate for 2 hours. Just before serving, add the banana slices.
Makes 8 servings |
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| About Stew Leonard’s | |
| Stew Leonard’s, a family-owned and operated grocery founded in 1969, has three stores in Norwalk and Danbury, Conn. and Yonkers, NY., with a fourth store planned for 2005 in East Farmingdale, N.Y. The company was named among FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work for in America” for the past three consecutive years. For more information, visit Stew Leonard’s website at www.stewleonards.com. | |
