Has anyone had this problem with fresh blueberries?

[RN01]

I pick blueberries every year and have never run into this problem. This year the skin area on the underside of the blueberry is very tough. So bad that you have to pull it out of your mouth when you are eating it. Not all the blueberries are like that but I'd say at least half. This is very disappointing due to I pick enough to freeze and use all year. I've done a search and cannot find anything that makes reference to this. Just wondering if anyone else has noticed this and if you know what causes it.

 

[scrapquitler]

Where did you get them?

I just googled quickly, and it seems like there might be different varieties of blueberries and some of them might have thicker skins than others. I also saw this: http://www.ehow.com/way_5764767_can-identify-huckleberries_.html Maybe some of what you have are actually huckleberries?

 

[RN01]

I pick them at a place in southwestern indiana. I go to the same place every year and have never had them like this before.

 

[RN01]

No they were definately not huckleberries.

 

[DizneyDogs]

No they were definately not huckleberries.

plus huckleberries only grow in the NW

could it be the weather? I know here we have had a cold summer so far which is unusual

 

[CTdiznymom]

Maybe calling the farm you picked them at would have an answer.

 

[Frannie115]

Sounds like they're not ripe enough yet. We have many blueberries on our land here in NC and pick them around the end of July every year. They are just starting to turn a blue/purple color. Yours could be a different variety though

 

[MaleficentRN]

No, but I was cheesed that the last two pints had a large amount of stems still attached!

 

[Evi]

When you pick bluberries its common to leave the little stem on them. Its not like you stop and take of all the little stems when you put them in the basket.

 

[Swimalie]

As I sit here, I'm munching on blueberries that I bought yesterday. I'm not sure what variety they are but they were grown in NJ. No problems with the skin on them. The bushes in our backyard are ripening now and will be ready in about 2 weeks.

 

[ShiPooOwner]

Ours have been delicious with no problems. Not sure where they originated, however. The only time I've had problems with tough skins is when I've tried to freeze them in years past. People have said don't wash them prior to freezing so I tried that and that didn't work either. Still very tough skins when they thawed out.

 

[RN01]

It's actually the part on the bottom of the blueberry. Not sure what it's called but it's opposite of where the stem is. Some of them have a very tough area on them. My dad wondered if it had something to do with the wet weather we have had. I really have no idea. I tried to call the place but it's just a recording. Thanks for all the ideas though.

 

[j's m]

I recently got Florida blueberries, I couldn't wait for ours in NJ. They had the same tough skin you're talking about, I never had ones like that before.

 

[LilyWDW]

I've not had any issue with "local" blueberries (Tennessee, North Carolina, ect). Actually just ate a few with my breakfast and they were tender and sweet.