Elizabeth Coleman White and Frederick Coville: The Pioneers of Blueberry Cultivation
Blueberries, as we known them today, have a relatively young history, especially compared to other widely cultivated fruits like apples. Although blueberries are native to North America and have been used by indigenous peoples for thousands of years, intentional cultivation only began in the early 20th century. Before that time, blueberries gathered from the wild were sold in limited quantities at markets in the U.S., and they were nowhere near as widespread as they are today.
In comparison, apples have a much longer and deeper history of cultivation. Their progenitor, Malus sieversii, originates from Central Asia, a region that has been inhabited by humans for over 100,000 years. This long history of human settlement allowed apples to be cultivated and spread over thousands of years. In contrast, the first humans only arrived in North America about 15,000 years ago, explaining the shorter timeframe for blueberry cultivation.
Blueberries belong to the genus Vaccinium, which includes over 35 species worldwide, adapted to various climates. In North America, this genus exhibits similar diversity, with species ranging from the warmer climates of southern Mexico to the colder regions of Canada and Alaska. In the Midwest of the United States, most cultivated varieties are derived from the highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), native to the eastern and southern parts of the U.S. as well as eastern Canada.
Although the first successful cultivation of blueberries occurred in 1912, they had already been a vital food source for indigenous peoples of North America for thousands of years. Blueberries have the advantage of being more shelf-stable than many other berries, making them an important component of winter food stores. They were stored dried for the winter, eaten fresh during the season, and incorporated into a variety of dishes. Additionally, various parts of the blueberry plant, including roots, stems, leaves, and fruits, were used in the traditional medicine of indigenous peoples.
However, the modern history of the blueberry and its commercial cultivation began with the vision and dedication of Elizabeth Coleman White, the daughter of a cranberry farmer from New Jersey. As early as the late 1890s, she recognized the potential of the blueberry as a cultivated plant, even though many other farmers at the time were skeptical. There was simply a lack of knowledge about the specific needs of blueberries to cultivate them successfully. In the early 20th century, USDA botanist Frederick Coville began studying North American blueberry species with the goal of developing improved varieties for commercial cultivation. Coville was already well-known in botanical circles, having participated as a field botanist in the first comprehensive multidisciplinary expedition to Death Valley in the early 1890s. He later became the chief botanist of the USDA and published over 170 scientific papers and books during his lifetime.In 1911, Coville published a book titled Experiments in Blueberry Culture, documenting his research and the work of other scientists studying the cultivation of Vaccinium species in the U.S. Coville's groundbreaking discovery was that blueberries require extremely acidic soil conditions, a fact that was not previously known. This insight was key to the successful cultivation of blueberries. At the same time, Elizabeth White read Coville’s book and immediately contacted him. She offered him land on her family's cranberry farm in New Jersey for research purposes. Together, White and Coville laid the foundation for the modern blueberry varieties that are grown worldwide today. Their collaboration led to the first successful field planting in 1912 and the first commercial harvest of highbush blueberries in 1916.
Another significant milestone in the history of blueberries occurred in the 1990s and early 2000s, when a series of scientific studies highlighted the health benefits of blueberries, identifying them as a "superfood." These discoveries led to a boom in blueberry production in the U.S., increasing from about 100 million pounds per year in the late 1990s to over 500 million pounds in recent years. Today, blueberries are an almost indispensable part of our diet. They are rich in antioxidants, offering a variety of health benefits, including improved heart health and reduced inflammation in the gut. These health benefits, combined with their delicious taste, have made blueberries one of the most popular berries worldwide. The story of the blueberry is an impressive example of the connection between traditional knowledge and modern science. Thanks to the pioneering work of people like Elizabeth White and Frederick Coville, who shared their knowledge of the use and cultivation of blueberries, the blueberry is now a common fruit in our supermarkets and an essential component of a healthy diet.
Sources:
Macquarie University. (o. J.). More about Blueberries Vaccinium spp. How a cranberry farmer worked with a botanist to breed commercial blueberries, and what makes them blue! Abgerufen 2. September 2024, von Quelle
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. (2019). The Garden Scoop The history of blueberries: From Native American staple to domesticated superfood. Quelle
U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council. (2024). History of Blueberries. Quelle
U.S.Department of Agriculture. (2012). The Woman Who Cultivated a Billion-Dollar Industry. Quelle