Blueberries have a relatively short shelf life; this can range from 1 to 3 weeks depending on the type of blueberries you have bought. The shelf life of fresh blueberries depends on several factors, but the most decisive one is the time that elapses from when they are harvested in the field until they reach shops, supermarkets or your home. And, of course, we must store them correctly.
When blueberries are imported, especially from overseas countries, they inevitably have to travel for many days before reaching shops or supermarkets. It can take up to 40 or 50 days between harvesting in the field and the final sale to the consumer. It must be said, however, that these blueberries are transported under controlled atmospheric conditions that keep them in good condition. But these are many days added to their post-harvest life, and therefore, the shelf life of these blueberries will be shorter than that of domestic or freshly harvested blueberries. These imported blueberries can be kept for 5 to 7 days in our fridge.
When we buy domestically grown blueberries at the supermarket, this journey time between the plantations and the end consumer is considerably reduced. This is because domestically grown blueberries usually take no more than 7 days to reach the supermarket from the time they are harvested on the plantations. Therefore, the shelf life of these blueberries will easily be around 10 to 15 days. Furthermore, as we always remind you, fruit produced in Spain and much of the European Union meets very high hygiene and plant health standards.
And how many days do freshly picked blueberries keep?
If we buy freshly picked blueberries directly from farmers, as is the case with us, and we also operate under the “Farm to fork” strategy, you will receive blueberries at your home within 24 hours of them being on the plant. Therefore, you are buying freshly harvested organic blueberries. And this way, you can store your blueberries for up to 3 weeks in your fridge without any problem. Furthermore, at Arándanos el Cierrón we grow innovative varieties that are exquisite, all combined with precision and organic farming.
So should I keep the blueberries cold in the fridge?
Yes, that is highly recommended. At room temperature, the shelf life of blueberries is drastically reduced to just 1 or 2 days. Therefore, once you receive our freshly harvested organic blueberries, you should store them in the fridge to maximise their shelf life. Furthermore, during the summer months, high temperatures can quickly damage the fruit.
And how should blueberries be stored correctly?
As well as keeping them cool in the fridge, you should place the blueberries in a container that allows for ventilation, for example our cardboard tubs, which are die-cut and have ventilation holes that help ensure proper airflow, keeping them fresh.
Furthermore, we should always store blueberries completely dry to prevent the growth of mould or them sticking together. As we explained in the FAQ “Should blueberries be washed?”, organic blueberries do not need to be washed. However, if you do decide to wash them, it must be done correctly to avoid issues that reduce their shelf life.
Placing blueberries in the coldest part of the fridge, which is usually the bottom or top shelf, can also help them last longer. Nowadays, there are also fridges with special fruit drawers that help keep them fresh for longer.
If you want to enjoy some delicious organic blueberries, click here
Produced and written without the use of artificial intelligence by Adrián García Villar, Agricultural Engineer from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM). Membership No. 215, Official Association of Agricultural Engineers of the Principality of Asturias (COIASTUR)
References:
Juan Carlos García, Guillermo García González de Lena, Marta Ciordia Ara, (2018).