Pink and green before they turn blue (imago/blickwinkel)
imago/blickwinkel
With blossom remains like puckered lips (123RF)
123RF
Ripe blueberries in the rain (imago/blickwinkel)
imago/blickwinkel
Also known as bilberries, this time on some forest lichen (123RF)
123RF
A blueberry bush in its autumn glory (123RF)
123RF
Red glow of blueberry leaves competing with the Matterhorn for attention (imago)
imago
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Not content to mind her own business, Susan studied journalism in Boston so she’d have the perfect excuse to put herself in other people’s shoes and worlds. When not writing, she presents and produces podcasts and videos.
In May and June, Switzerland’s wild blueberry bushes are in bloom. They’re popular with birds, foxes and bears.
After the berries ripen in July and August, the leaves turn a spectacular crimson in the autumn. Unlike commercially grown berries, these smaller wild ones stain fingers and lips a deep blue. They are rich in iron, tannins and vitamins.
Blueberry bushes grow best in acidic, sandy soil, reaching a height of 30-60 centimetres. They occur in moorland, forests and mountains – rewarding hikers who are lucky enough to find the bushes in fruit. However, picking blueberries is forbidden in Swiss conservation areas because foxes, grouse and other animals depend on them.
Brown bears gather blueberries, too, something witnessed by Swiss wildlife biologist Mario Theus. In 2007 and 2008, he was keeping tabs on JJ3 – a male “problem” bear who’d been raiding garbage and compost bins.
“One day I saw him plucking blueberries at a leisurely pace. Then I went and fetched a hunter friend and long-time bear adversary, and the man was so impressed with the sight that he completely changed his mind,” Theus told newspaper Der BundExternal link. Nevertheless, authorities called for JJ3 to be shot dead in 2008 – sparking criticism from environmentalists.
For people disinclined to forage, Swiss grocers offer blueberries nearly year-round. The demand is so great that Swiss farmers have nearly tripled their cultivation efforts over the past decade. In 2017 alone, they expanded their blueberry fields by 12% to a record 93 hectares.
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You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.