From bushes to bottles: our visit to Blueberry Country

We love blueberries at EveryDay+ and use them in a few of our products for their natural benefits.

Blueberry Country is one of our suppliers of blueberries. They have four blueberry orchards across Aotearoa.

The EveryDay+ team had a fascinating morning visiting the sunny Ngatea location in the Hauraki Plains and chatting to the team (while sampling berries straight from the bushes!). This is the second-smallest site that Blueberry Country own, but it still boasts an impressive 90,000 blueberry bushes, with 150,000kg of blueberries harvested over the 2024/25 season.

Blueberry Country has a long history in Aotearoa. In the 1950s, scientists first trialled blueberries on the peat soil of Ruakura in the Waikato, which was previously said to be “unfarmable”. To their surprise, the crop flourished in this soil.

Blueberries originally came from North America, with different varieties thriving in the diverse climates down the East Coast. Down here in Aotearoa conditions are ideal in the Waikato region for blueberries because multiple varieties can be grown in the same area, ripening at different times throughout the summer.

Blueberry Country grew from that pioneering research and is now New Zealand’s largest family-owned blueberry grower, with orchards in Ōhaupō, Ngatea, Waipū and Otautau.

At Blueberry Country, they grow around 50 different varieties, ensuring a long and full harvest. They also haven’t sprayed any insecticides in the past 30 years. Instead, they have a population of beneficial insects that eat the majority of the potential pests. Their most significant pest are birds, of which they have a variety of methods to deter including devices that emit irregular loud noises – it wasn’t a quiet morning out in Ngatea but if you follow the birds, you’ll find the ripest blueberries!

An imbalance of free radicals and not enough antioxidants is known as oxidative stress. Your body succumbing to the common cold is an example of the short-term effects of oxidative stress that you’ve likely experienced. However, if this imbalance persists long-term, oxidative stress can damage the body’s cells, proteins and DNA (Villines & Murnan, 2025).

Research suggests that regular blueberry consumption for their anthocyanins may support heart health, protect against conditions like pre- and type 2 diabetes, and even boost brain and cognitive function, especially for people with existing health issues or age-related decline (Stull et al., 2024).

We use New Zealand blueberries in our Blueberry Vitality concentrate, Blackcurrant, Blueberry & Ginseng Energy Daily Shot and Blackcurrant, Blueberry & Ginseng Energy RTD where we also add Vitamin B12 for energy and vitality benefits. We also use them in our NZ Blackcurrant, Blueberry & Honey Immunity Gel Sachets with added Vitamin C.

Summary

Blueberries aren’t just delicious, they’re packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that help protect your body from oxidative stress and support overall health. At EveryDay+, we’re proud to use New Zealand-grown blueberries in our products, partnering with suppliers like Blueberry Country. Whether you enjoy them fresh or in our energy and immunity beverages, blueberries are a simple way to add antioxidants to your day.

If you’re keen to experience blueberries at their freshest, visit Blueberry Country’s orchards in Otautau, Ōhaupō, Ngatea, or Waipū for Pick-Your-Own or a tasty real fruit ice cream from October to April. Visit the Blueberry Country website for more details.

Please note, EveryDay+ products are intended to complement a healthy lifestyle and are not a substitute for medical treatments or supplements. While we provide general tips and information on our blog, we recommend consulting a healthcare professional for personalised advice.