Episode 3 - Fruit Love Letters
Cultivated or Wild the Blueberry Has a Story to Tell
In this episode of Fruit Love Letters, Jessamine chats with:
Kiyomi Locker, archivist for Whitesbog Preservation Trust in Browns Mills, New Jersey
Holli Francis, product manager of Passamaquoddy Wild Blueberry Co. in Maine
Brian Altvater, chairman of Passamaquoddy Wild Blueberry Co. in Maine
Episode highlights:
Whitesbog, Home of Cranberry and Blueberry Harvesting
Kiyomi Locker shares the history of Whitesbog as one of the last public places to view cranberry harvest and the first blueberry farm
Kiyomi details her role within the Trust to preserve archival documents, tools and machinery
The Quest of Cultivating Blueberries
Kiyomi discusses Elizabeth White’s work in spearheading the cultivation of blueberries at Whitesbog with the assistance of Dr. Frederick Coville
Kiyomi explains how blueberries and cranberries share the need of acidic soil to properly cultivate, allowing for the perfect transition between harvests
Elizabeth White’s work in producing the ideal blueberry bush was relentless, and her first successful harvest was in 1914
Blueberries As We Know Them
Kiyomi reveals that the containers of blueberries at the grocery store contain multiple varieties of blueberries
Kiyomi discuss multiple varieties of blueberries, and explains how the Rubel variety is what we consider the standard blueberry flavor profile
An impressive fact is shared; that first bushes Elizabeth White planted in Whitesbog are still producing blueberries to this day
The Appreciation of Wild Berries
Holly Francis explains how the wild blueberries are different from the cultivated berries, both in overall size and health benefits.
Learn how wild blueberries grow, as Holli describes blueberry barrens and their root systems
Brian Altvater recounts the history of the Passamaquoddy tribe on this land and their connection to wild blueberries.
Brian the explains how in the 1970s, the Indian Claim Settlement Act resulted in the Passamaquoddy tribe receiving funds to purchase land and invest in their own businesses.
Brian continues to push more efficient blueberry harvesting practices, with the addition of mechanical tools to maintain success.
Guests
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Kiyomi Locker
Kiyomi Locker is an archivist for Whitesbog Preservation Trust in Browns Mills, New Jersey.
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Holli Francis
Holli Francis, Product Manager with PWBC, joined the Company in 2021. She is in charge of developing new products and has extensive experience in marketing, sales, and food distribution. Holli’s husband and toddler son are Passamaquoddy Tribe members; because of this, Holli has a vested interest in the success of PWBC and is committed to further grow the customer base, the brand and share the wild blueberry cultural heritage and harvesting tradition of the Passamaquoddy Tribe.
Holli lives in the Portland, Maine area. Her family spends most of their time together exploring the outdoors—golfing, hiking, running, snow-shoeing, and enjoying the beautiful state of Maine.
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Brian Altvater
Brian Altvater is the Chairman of Passamaquoddy Wild Blueberry Co. in Maine and also Chairman of The Schoodic Riverkeepers, a growing group of Passamaquoddy Tribal members who have come together to make positive political and social change. Their goal is to raise awareness about the value of clean water, the true history of exploitation of the natural resources, the need for ecosystem restoration and the need to take responsible action as caretakers of the Earth.