National Blueberry Pie Day is a holiday that falls on April 28th and celebrates one of the most delicious of all pies being made. Why is this holiday celebrated in April? It’s celebrated in this month because April marks the beginning of the blueberry harvest. So it’s the perfect time to either buy a pie from your favorite purveyor of baked goods or make your own blueberry pie. Either way, be sure to enjoy your blueberry pie with a nice cold glass of milk.

The History Of Blueberry Pie

National Blueberry Pie Day’s origin seems to be lost to the fog of time, so we decided to write about the history of blueberry pie instead. The blueberry pie as we know it today dates back to the mid-19th century. Although different types of pies were created during the Middle Ages, none of them were blueberry pies because the blueberry is native to North America, and Europe wouldn’t grow blueberries until they received the highbush blueberry varieties during the 1930s.

No, the blueberry pie is as American as a pie can be—maybe even more so than apple pie. It was first mentioned in a book known as the Practical Cook Book, written by Mrs. Bliss and published in 1850. Even though this book brought attention to this pie—which at that point was only made in New England—it wouldn’t be until the Civil War that it became popular.

Why did the Civil War make blueberries popular? It’s all because northern sardine manufacturers lost access to the southern markets due to the war, so they had to start canning blueberries. This allowed them to sell blueberries to the Union Army, who were more than happy to buy them for their front-line troops. As a result, Union soldiers developed a taste for blueberries, and consequently, a taste for blueberry pie after they returned home from the war. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Facts About Blueberries

Since blueberry pies are, in fact, made from blueberries, and National Blueberry Pie Day wouldn’t be a holiday without this pie, we thought it was more than apt to list some of the facts that we found the most interesting about blueberries.

• People have consumed blueberries for over 13,000 years.
• Native Americans would often call blueberries “star-fruits” due to their five-pointed shape at the end of the berry.
• One blueberry bush can produce as many as 6,000 blueberries every year.
• Blueberries are one of the only naturally occurring foods to be colored blue.

Observing National Blueberry Pie Day

Celebrating National Blueberry Pie Day is as easy as pie. Just bake your own blueberry pie or buy one from your local bakery and then enjoy it. While you’re enjoying that blueberry goodness, be sure to use the hashtag #NationalBlueberryPieDay, so all of us will know that you’re having a “berry” good time!