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Berries |
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Blueberries: Alas, fresh berry picking has ended for 2008. But this season’s IQF frozen berries are in plentiful supply. The acronym IQF stands for Individual Quick Freeze and refers to the method by which all our hand-picked, orchard fresh berries (blueberries and raspberries) are prepared for storage in our freezers. This year OUR FREEZERS ARE FULL. Please come enjoy some of our harvest whether it be to stock your own freezer, or to enjoy some fresh baking or preserves. Raspberries: We’ve enjoyed growing fresh raspberries in one way or another for over twenty years. It was this body of experience that brought us to our current orchard of late-bearing gems. We have four acres of the Autumn Britten and Heritage varieties, all under netting in clean, irrigated fields. Harvest lasts from early-September through mid-October. |
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It was thirty years ago that we first planted our blueberry bushes. With a lot of tender loving care, we have nurtured these babies into the most beautiful bushes. They now stand between four and six feet tall, on over forty irrigated acres, entirely under netting. We are pioneers in the use of nets to keep our fields clean. Keeping birds out means our clusters are free of pecks and any residual bird contact. Our orchard is one of the most picturesque settings one can enjoy. Blueberry season usually begins in mid-July and lasts approximately until Labour Day in September. We have four different varieties to pick from, and two more in development (bushes need to mature for four to five years before they bear fruit). We have a great U-pick operation, that on most days includes a wagon ride. We have guides who personally escort pickers to the choice areas for harvest, and provide picking pails and stools to sit on. We have water coolers and a hand-washing station at your service, and washroom facilities in our barn. Also in our barn are our Ready-pick berries. As soon as the dew is off in the morning, we begin picking by hand. The berries are brought to our cooler hourly, quality checked and packed fresh. Every year we IQF freeze about a third of our harvest; for sale in our store, and for use in our bakery. Some berries go directly into the kettle to be made into preserves, or frozen unbaked pies that seem to fly off of our shelves. Debate continues as to whether it’s the pie fill or the pastry that is responsible for their popularity, but no matter how you look at it, when Parks makes a pie, we really, truly do it from scratch! The little slogan we’ve adopted is that we put our heart in every pie and that comes from thirty years of history! |
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Parks Blueberries |
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Water Energy Protein Lipids Ash Carbohydrate Fiber Sugars Calcium Iron Magnesium Phosphorus Potassium Sodium Zinc Copper Manganese Selenium Vitamin C Thiamin Riboflavin Niacin Pantothenic Acid Vitamin B-6 Folate Choline Betaine Vitamin A Vitamin E Vitamin K |
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62.32 g 42 cal 0.55 g 0.24 g 0.18 g 10.72 g 1.8 g 7.37 g 4 mg 0.21 mg 4 mg 9 mg 57 mg 1 mg 0.12 mg 0.042 mg 0.249 mg 0.1 mcg 7.2 mg 0.027 mg 0.030 mg 0.309 mg 0.092 mg 0.038 mg 4 mcg 4.4 mg 0.1 mg 40 iu 0.42 mg 14.3 mcg |
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105.47 g 64 cal 1.48 g 0.80 g 0.57 g 14.69 g 8 g 5.44 g 31 mg 0.85 mg 27 mg 36 mg 186 mg 1 mg 0.52 mg 0.111 mg 0.824 mg 0.2 mcg 32.2 mg 0.039 mg 0.047 mg 0.736 mg 0.405 mg 0.068 mg 26 mcg 15.1 mg 1.0 mg 41 iu 1.07 mg 9.6 mcg |
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Nutrition |
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1/2 cup blueberries |
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1 cup raspberries |
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Blueberries have long been recognized as a nutritious and healthful food choice. Over the last decade, they have earned increasing acclaim as one of nature’s super-fruits. Studies worldwide are resulting in exciting and significant findings. Blueberries are now positively linked with improvements in memory, motor skills, vision, cardiovascular and urinary tract maintenance, cancer inhibition, and a reduction in the effects of aging. How do blueberries do it? Their anthocyanins (from the Greek anthos for plant and kyanos for blue) are key. Anthocyanins have incredible antioxidant power. Antioxidants destroy free radicals, thereby preventing the cellular damage that could lead to cancer, heart disease, loss of memory, cognitive and motor functions. Anthocyanins have also been shown to significantly reduce eyestrain, and strengthen capillaries for healthier veins. Blueberries are also known to create a ‘teflon’ effect, prohibiting the growth of bacteria by preventing its adherence to urinary tract walls. Experts recommend consuming a half cup of blueberries per day to reap the full benefits of ‘blue plant power’. Fresh or frozen, raw or cooked, the anthocyanins in blueberries are as healthful as the berries are flavourful. |
