Organic Berries for Health

Our organic strawberries are day neutral varieties grown as annuals. We feature 3 cultivars: Albion, Monteray and Seascape that are grown in caterpillar tunnels with drip lines for irrigation and fertigation (meaning organic fertilizer is put through the drip lines).

Strawberries are a great source of Vitamin C, Potassium, Folate, Manganese, and antioxidants.

Beneficial compounds: More than 25 different anthocyanins have been found in strawberries, which are compounds that contribue to the bright colors of fruits. Anthocyanin-rich foods are associated with numerous health benefits including fighting bacteria and a reduced risk of cancer.

Heart health: According to a study in middle-aged people with well-established risk factors for heart disease, berries may improve HDL (good) cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood platelets function. Strawberries may also improve blood antioxidant status, decrease oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, improve vascular function, improve your blood lipid profile, and reduce the harmful oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Cancer prevention:  Strawberries have been shown to inhibit tumor formation in animals with mouth cancer and in human liver cancer cells, and a number of studies suggest that berries may help prevent several types of cancer through their ability to fight oxidative stress and inflammation.

(Source: www.healthline.com)

Blueberry Bottom Farm features 8 different varieties of organic blueberries available for easy picking. Cultivars include Duke, Spartan, Bluejay, Patriot, Blueray, Toro, Bluecrop, and Chandler– and all bear large to extra-large berries.

Blueberries do require low pH soil between 3.5 to 5, which we amended the soil one year prior to planting. Elemental sulfur is added in the fall to maintain the soil at it's optimum pH. The entire field is hand-weeded twice a year and maintained with an irrigation and fertilization schedule that meets organic standards. We apply a fish emulsion/seaweed/sea mineral foliar spray several times each season.

Blueberries naturally provide many beneficial nutrients. They are high in Vitamin K, Manganese, Vitamin C, Copper, Vitamin E and are filled with powerful antioxidants that aid in good health.

Heart Health:  One cup of blueberries per day improved heart function and arterial stiffness and was predicted to contribute to a 12 to 15 percent lower risk of heart disease in people with overweight and obesity (aged 50 to 75) with metabolic syndrome in a May 2019 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Brain-health: Greater dietary intakes of blueberries and strawberries were associated with slower rates of cognitive decline in older women in a July 2012 study published in the ‌Annals of Neurology‌, an effect researchers owe to the flavonoids in berries. This study was partially funded by the California Strawberry Commission but is notable because it reviewed data of more than 16,000 participants from the Nurses' Health Study.

Eating the most blueberries and strawberries was linked to delaying memory decline by up to 2.5 years. The study researchers note that  berry-derived anthocyanidins, flavonoids that are counterparts of  anthocyanin, are uniquely able to cross the blood-brain barrier to  accumulate in areas of the brain responsible for learning and memory  such as the hippocampus.

(Source: www.livestrong.com)