The 18th Annual Blueberry Festival is taking place at the The Maples (the Benzie County Medical Care Facility, the the "more" link below for a map and lots more blueberry info!). Head on over to the festival to enjoy breakfast from 9-12, a pig roast from 12-3, a silent auction bake sale, live music, and tons of fun.

Michigan Blueberries (from the Michigan Department of Agriculture's Michigan Blueberries page)

The blueberry of the genus Vaccinium, is a Native American species. Early settlers cherished the fruit as a staple ingredient in foods and medicines. They incorporated the berries into their diets, eating them fresh off the bush and adding them to soups, stews, and many other foods. North America is the world's leading blueberry producer, accounting for nearly 90% of world production at the present time. The North American harvest runs from mid-April through early October, with peak harvest in July—which is also known as National Blueberry Month.

Michigan leads the nation in blueberry production, producing 32 percent of the blueberries eaten in the U.S. In 1998, the state produced 49 million pounds of the small, round berry.

Also see Ready to Pick: Michigan Blueberries from Absolute Michigan for blueberry info and recipes (including the Sunshine Cafe in Bear Lake's Blueberry Muffins!)

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