I grew up in Delaware and have fond memories of visiting a blueberry farm every summer with my family. We always left the farm with full bellies and big buckets of plump berries to take home. Our summers consisted of everything blueberry- blueberry pancakes, blueberry jam, and lots of blueberry milkshakes. My family’s love for berries has been passed down to our almost four-year-old daughter, Brynn, who on most days would prefer berries over ice cream as a sweet treat!

Berries have a lot of nutritional benefits. They are low in calories and high in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. Now that we are getting into the summer months where berries are in season, fresh berries are easier to find and tend to be less expensive. Below are a few tips to extend the life of fresh berries.

• Only wash the amount that you need for a snack or a recipe. Washing berries too soon can lead to them spoiling much quicker.
• If berries are on sale, you can purchase them in bigger quantities to freeze. Wash the berries and place them in freezer bags to use in recipes like Berry Banana Popsicles, Berry Crisp, and Yogurt Parfaits .
• Save yourself time and money by checking the containers of berries before purchasing. I like to flip the containers upside down and shake the berries from side to side to check for mold or mushy berries.

Check out the Aisle by Aisle section on Spend Smart. Eat Smart. for additional tips on how to shop and store seasonal fruits to stretch your food dollars.

Cheers to adding fresh berries to your summer meals!