Karina Jones is a real-life ranch wife in the Nebraska Sandhills and one of the most highly sought-after speakers in the cattle industry nationwide!
It’s Fun, Fact Friday and I can think of no better way to start off July than by celebrating National Blueberry Month!
Whether cultivated, wild, fresh or frozen, blueberries are full of essential nutrients and fiber, and are high in antioxidants (ARS, 2016).
At least 14 states produce blueberries. Michigan was the nation’s leading producer of cultivated blueberries. The three following top producers were Washington, Oregon, and Georgia. Maine was the leading producer of lowbush, or “wild” blueberries.
Okay, here is where I was surprised! The United States is a net importer of fresh and frozen blueberries. IN 2017, the nation imported fresh blueberries valued at nearly $842.1 million. Over 50% of the fresh blueberries came from Chile; which provides fresh blueberries to U.S. markets during the winter months of mid-November through January. Canada provided almost 20% of the fresh blueberries coming into the country (ERS 2021).
I always have a bag of frozen blueberries on hand because my girls love to throw them in the blender, cover them with milk and viola a blueberry smoothie! Super easy and hits the spot on these hot summer days. A current jam favorite among my tribe is the blueberry rhubarb jam that I make. I found a bunch of blueberry recipes that look delish on the US Highbush Blueberry website which I will link on the RR Facebook page and the Your Ag Network app and website!
Bottom line, check your labels and lets support the American blueberry industry!
Karina ranches with her husband, Marty, and 4 children near Broken Bow, NE. She grew up in western NE, with roots also in southwest SD. The cattle industry and raising kids is her passion.
Watching the cattle industry go the path that it has gone, she could no longer sit quietly at home checking cows, fixing fence, and doing all the everyday tasks wondering when some else was going to make it all better. As she became more active and outspoken on industry issues, she was asked to join the R-CALF USA staff in September 2020 as the Checkoff Petition Campaign manager. That position transcended into her current role as full time Field Director for R-CALF USA.
You can hear her almost every Friday on Your Ag Network’s Hot Barn Report, where she deep dives into cattle industry issues and industry reforms. Listen to Ranch Raised on a Your Ag Network hometown station or www.youragnetwork.com where she talks about her daily life on the Jones Ranch.
Cattle producers are her people. She will meet you at the county fair, at the sale barn, or anywhere the dusty trail leads.
[email protected] or visit facebook.com/ranchraisedwithkarinajones
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