BLUEBERRY

North American shrub of the species Vaccinium australe (family Ericaceae), prized for its sweet edible fruits, which provide a source of vitamin C and iron. Blueberries are eaten fresh, often with cream, as a dessert fruit, or baked in a variety of pastries. Blueberries grow only in highly acidic and well-drained but moist soils. About 36,000 acres (14,500 hectares) of the high-bush blueberry are cultivated, primarily in Maine, New Jersey, southwestern Michigan, and eastern North Carolina. See also bilberry.