Ah, the much-anticipated warmth of summer has finally arrived. The time has come to enjoy the beauty of our gardens and the bounty of nature’s scrumptious offerings. If you are born and raised in Nova Scotia then there is little doubt that you have picked (and eaten) our world famous delectable tiny blue globes, the wild blueberry.
Those who know me well know that I am constantly on the hunt for nutrient-dense foods; I aim to ensure that I am giving my family and myself the best health supportive foods possible. The wild blueberry is one of those all-stars! As a kid I remember picking blueberries and eating them on the spot. I associate that sweet taste with the easy breezy, carefree days of summer. Little did I know then just how beneficial blueberries are for us. “Scientists from around the world are investigating the disease-fighting potential of blueberries… it turns out that these anti-oxidant rich super berries and the bioactive phytonutrients that give them their deep-blue color reveal a wide range of potential health benefits. From brain health, gut and heart health to cancer prevention, improved urinary tract function and reduction in diabetes risk, blueberry research is changing the way we look at these tiny, potent berries” all according to the health research articles found on wildblueberries.com. It’s even been found that primary school children could show better attention by consuming flavonoid-rich blueberries following a study conducted by the University of Reading.
This year I’ve had the pleasure of meeting the Kong family, whose children attend the same school as our children. Wei Yu Kong an his wife Huijing, have made great strides in Nova Scotia for the Canadian blueberry industry. They came to Nova Scotia in 2013 looking for an agri-food opportunity and it was clear to them that the blueberries found here would be well-received internationally and in their home country of China. Since putting down roots here, they bought a wild berry farm in Caledonia and have been converting their berries into dried fruit, juice and even wine. They have been working hand-in-hand with the government to promote our beautiful Nova Scotia berries on trade missions and also in the promotion and education of the health benefits of our homegrown gems.
I asked Huijing if she would share one of their families favourite blueberry summer treats with us; I was delighted by the flavours and eye appeal of this fruity blueberry popsicle. This is a treat that is sure to please guests of all ages and, in one bite, it will bring you back to memories of childhood with that sweet lingering taste of blueberries.

If you are interested in their other products you can find their offerings on their website jusnova.ca!

Fruity Blueberry Popsicles

INGREDIENTS
Blueberry juice
Kiwi
Mango
Strawberries
Sparkling water

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Prepare a mold.
  2. Wash the fruit.
  3. Add slices or diced fruit to the bottom of the mold.
  4. Stir blueberry juice and sparkling water evenly and then pour into the mold. Layering the juices takes a little more time during the freezing process but the presentation is totally worth it in my opinion.
  5. If you choose to layer, fill ¼ of the mold with blueberry juice, freezer for 20 mins, fill the next ¼ with sparkling water, freeze for 20 mins and repeat until full adding fruit where you wish.
  6. Place in the freezer until hardened. Enjoy.