FAQ
Everything you need to know about OZblu blueberries
Growing OZblu® Blueberries
Does OZblu® grow its own berries?
Yes. OZblu® has its own farms and a network of licensed growers growing our unique blueberries.
Where does OZblu® grow their berries?
OZblu® blueberries are grown across Australia, North America, South America, Southern Africa and Southern Europe.
Are OZblu® blueberries genetically modified (GMO)?
No, OZblu® blueberries are not genetically modified.
OZblu® uses only natural breeding and propagation methods such as tissue culture and plant crossing to create our bigger, bolder blueberries.
Are OZblu® blueberries irradiated?
No, we never irradiate our blueberries.
Irradiation is a process that preserves food by using a low dose of high energy gamma rays to kill any germs and insects, thus slowing the maturation process and extending shelf life.
The natural bloom on the blueberry as well as OZblu®’s unique blueberries, harvesting methods and cooling processes ensure and maintain fruit quality and shelf life.
Does OZblu® use pesticides?
Our farmers use biological products as much as possible as well as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems to prevent, monitor and control pest and disease problems.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) uses a combination of natural and synthetic means to reduce disease and control pests with the least possible hazard to people, property and the environment.
Any pesticide use is in strict compliance with South African, European and CODEX laws and regulations.
In this way we incorporate chemical and biological methods to get the best results while striving towards growing without chemicals.
We do not use any pesticides containing glyphosate.
Does OZblu® add colour or artificially flavour its blueberries?
No, OZblu® blueberries are all natural!
How are OZblu® blueberries harvested?
Our blueberries are hand-picked and packed in state-of-the-art packing facilities.
From farm to table. Read more about how we grow…
About Blueberries
Where can I buy OZblu® blueberries?
OZblu® blueberries can be purchased at most large chain supermarkets throughout South Africa, the United States, Europe, Russia, China, Australia, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia. For a list of stores, visit Where to Buy.
What should I look for when selecting blueberries in the grocery store?
When you buy fresh blueberries, look for berries that are firm, dry, plump and smooth-skinned, with a pale, silvery surface coating and no leaves or stems. Ripe blueberries are deep purple-blue to blue-black. Reddish blueberries aren’t ripe, and won’t ripen once they are picked. Avoid blueberries that look soft or shriveled or have any signs of mould. If you see juice stains in a container of blueberries, the fruit might be bruised.
Do blueberries continue to ripen after they’ve been harvested?
No, berries don’t continue to ripen after they’ve been harvested.
What is the best way to store blueberries after I purchase them?
Blueberries are a delicate fruit and highly perishable. We recommend that you refrigerate them, unwashed, and in their original or other sealed packaging until eaten or used as an ingredient. Refrigeration will extend their freshness and shelf life. Find out more about refrigerating and freezing blueberries here.
Do I need to wash my berries before I use them?
As with all fresh produce, we recommend that you wash your blueberries before enjoying them. However, you should not wash your blueberries until just before you are ready to eat or use them as this will remove their natural protective coating – the bloom. The bloom prevents excessive moisture loss and prolongs the berry’s freshness and shelf life.
Can I freeze my fresh blueberries?
Yes, fresh blueberries can be easily frozen and enjoyed until you are ready to use them.
Wash the blueberries first, dry them well with paper towels, then transfer them to freezer containers or re-sealable plastic bags for freezing. The blueberries will freeze individually so you can remove just the portion you need.
Why do you not have a ‘best before’ date on your blueberry packages?
We naturally breed blueberry plants to have a longer shelf life and with the ability to retain its natural bloom but factors such as the location of the farm and transportation time can affect the shelf life of our blueberries. Due to these varying factors, a ‘best before’ date isn’t applied.
We recommend consuming the berries soon after purchase.
What are you waiting for? Take a look at our blueberry recipes.
Food Safety & Packaging
Are you able to trace where a pack of blueberries came from?
Yes. Each tray of OZblu® blueberries is labelled in the field. Our packhouse creates a pallet ID with an individual grower, variety and orchard or block number. Using this ID we can track the original source and current location of any package of OZblu® blueberries.
Is OZblu®‘s packaging recyclable?
Yes, all our packaging is recyclable.
Does OZblu® have a Food Safety Programme?
Next to all-encompassing berry quality, OZblu® has made food safety an important focus of growing our blueberries. Our primary concern is for the wholesomeness of our blueberries and the health and safety of our consumers, our employees, our farmers and their workers.
OZblu® has a dedicated technical team, which together with our farmers, upholds all the requirements necessary to comply with world-class safety standards. We can confidently assure any buyer of our blueberries, with traceability and accountability throughout the supply chain.
OZblu® applies the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) – an internationally recognised science-based system for reducing the risk of safety hazards in food.
We also adhere to the global Good Agriculture Practices (GAPs).
Independent third-party audits are performed around the world for food safety, environmental welfare, and the fair and ethical treatment of workers. These include: GLOBALG.A.P., Tesco Produce Packhouse Standard (TPPS), M&S Field To Fork, FSSC 2200, and SIZA.
Find out more about our Food Safety & Compliance.
Health & Nutrition
What are the nutritional benefits and calories of blueberries?
Blueberries are one of the most delicious, nutritious, disease fighting and disease preventative foods you can eat. With their exceptionally high antioxidant levels (believed to be the highest antioxidant capacity of ALL commonly consumed fruits and vegetables), blueberries are considered superfoods.
Blueberries are proof that good things really do come in small packages! Just one cup of blueberries give you 36% of your daily vitamin K, 25% of your vitamin C and manganese and 17% of your daily fibre requirements! All that with only 80 calories, virtually no fat, low sodium and moderate amounts of sugar (blueberries are a low GI food).
For more information about the nutritional content of blueberries, visit our Blueberry Benefits page.
What are the health benefits of blueberries?
Research has shown that blueberries protect against aging; protect and boost the brain; fight cancer; support digestion; boost ‘good’ bacteria; lower blood pressure; build and maintain healthy bones; promote healthy skin; prevent urinary tract infections; regulate insulin sensitivity; prevent heart disease and assist with weight loss.
For more detailed information about how blueberries benefit your health, visit our Blueberry Benefits page.
Small, but mighty! Find out why blueberries are a superfood.
Consumer Relations
Can OZblu® ship directly to the consumer?
OZblu® doesn’t sell or ship berries direct to consumers. You can find our blueberries in grocery stores and retailers around the world. Please visit Where to Buy to find a list of our retailers.
Does OZblu® sell their blueberry plants?
All the OZblu® blueberries are patented so our plants are not for sale and can’t be grown by anyone other than our network of farmers.
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