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Food is medicine.
And the ultimate expression of this medicine can be found on organic farms that work in full and unbridled cooperation with Mother Nature.
This food is so special that it leaves you speechless, turning upside-down the paradigm of what you thought food is supposed to taste like.
Such is the case with the blueberries from King Grove Organic Farm in Florida, which are grown in nutrient-rich soil surrounded by a diverse, natural ecosystem. And, wow, what a difference.
That is because if you go to your favorite grocer to pick up some fresh organic blueberries, a huge percentage of them are grown hydroponically — in plastic buckets of water filled with coconut coir and drip-fed nutrients.
While we have discussed this method of growing many times in the past in Organic Insider, here is a clear example of being able to experience the difference between fruits grown in soil and fruits grown in water.
What makes King Grove so unique:
1) Time and distance from farm to plate
As soon as a blueberry is picked, it starts to decay. Assuming that this blueberry will not be frozen and will be sold fresh, it needs to get to your home as quickly as possible.
With everything grown at King Grove’s farm in Florida, the blueberries are sorted and packed at 34 degrees in coolers on the premises, all within a few hours of being picked. Then, they are shipped out to customer homes and arrive one or two days later, via UPS.
“People tell us all of the time that our blueberries last a month or so in the fridge,” said Hugh Kent of King Grove, a Real Organic Project-certified farm. “That’s unusual for a blueberry.”
This could be explained by the vastly different systems utilized by industrial organic blueberry growers.
“In addition to their Mexican facilities, the big hydroponic operators have opened aggressively in Chile and Peru, and it could take up to three weeks before a blueberry arrives at the stores. With all of the different modes of shipping and transport the berries endure, not to mention the various temperature changes, that is a long time to overcome. Degradation is inevitable,” added Hugh Kent.
2) Smell and taste
Smell and taste are often an indication of nutritional value, and the reason that King Grove has developed such a devoted and fanatical following is because of the unparalleled sensory experience that the product delivers.
Acclaimed farm-to-table chef Dan Barber called King Grove’s blueberries “jaw-dropping” and “the best I have ever tasted.”
This effusive praise, however, has become the norm.
“We get absolutely flooded with compliments, and where we have seen a big uptick in sales is in our corporate gifting program,” said Hugh Kent. “Companies get a tremendous response from sending our blueberries out as a gift to their most valued clients, and the size of the re-orders has increased by up to 800% in certain cases.”
Yet, according to King Grove, some of the company’s biggest fans are neurologists, which is very significant.
These people are acutely familiar with the emerging research around flavonoids, the compounds in blueberries. Studies indicate that consuming flavonoids may improve memory, learning and general cognitive function, in addition to possibly providing protection against disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
WHY WE DO THIS
There is no shortage of very challenging issues facing the organic industry, and we are forced to confront them on a daily basis.
As such, what often gets forgotten is the precious nutrition that this method of agriculture provides to our bodies.
Tasting King Grove’s organic blueberries is an extremely powerful reminder of this, and farms such as these must be treasured, appreciated and supported — to ensure that they never go away.
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(Note: King Grove will only be selling its blueberries for another few weeks. Then, it will be completely finished for the 2023 season. I receive no affiliate fee for the sale of any blueberries and have no financial interest in the company.)
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With gratitude, 
Max Goldberg, Founder |
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