The Wild Journey

==><== <img src="https://imgur.com/DQVL1ni.gif" width="300" height="300"> <== Meet Berry Wild. He's a wild Maine blueberry grown off the coast of Maine. Like many wild blueberries, he is packed full of nutrients and spirit. Wild blueberries have a long history of being harvested and enjoyed by people and animals alike. Now is the chance to follow Berry on his adventure to see his WILD journey from the bush, possibly to your home. Berry's story begins on a bush with other wild blueberries. How about choosing the next step in his journey: [[Rake Berry off the bush]] [[Leave Berry on the bush]]

==><== <img src="https://imgur.com/SV0y99z.gif" width="400" height="400"> <== Berry missed his ride to the factory. You might think his journey ended before it began, but there's more this Berry's fate. Blueberries that get left behind are either eaten by wild animals (bears, foxes, moose) or fall to the earth and decompose. The nutrients inside him will help fertilize the soil for the next seasons crop. Don't worry, he'll get another chance next year. Try out a [[new Story]]

==><== <img src="https://imgur.com/CexFA26.gif" width="400" height="400"> <== With summer in full swing, Berry is raked off the bush with a special tool made to handpick blueberries effectively without causing too much bruising. Hand-picking wild blueberries dates back to over 10,000 years ago and a method still used today. With Berry and his blue pals freshly picked from the barrens, its time for him to [[get shipped to factory]].

==><== <img src="https://imgur.com/nAnL4T9.gif" width="400" height="400"> <== With all the colorful crates full of fresh blueberries, it's time for Berry to take his first ride to get cleaned. He has a long ride ahead of him [[to the factory]].

==><== <img src="https://imgur.com/IPJ1Vpt.gif" width="400" height="400"> <== At the factory, Berry takes a ride through a special machine. The machine helps separate blueberries that are too small, get rid of leaves, and sticks that were picked up during harvest. There are also helping hands around to find anything the machinery missed. Berry will either get [[frozen]], tossed into a [[basket]], or [[tossed]] with the other rejected blueberries.

==><== <img src="https://imgur.com/eMFN5fc.gif" width="400" height="400"> <== Berry is packaged and chilled in a freezer. This will help keep him from spoiling too soon. Berry will have much longer to be his usual berry self before he's used as ingredients in yummy treats such as a [[smoothie]].

==><== <img src="https://imgur.com/EobiERX.gif" width="400" height="400"> <== Grade A berries get packaged into boxes that show off their best characteristics. Berry is the perfect example of a fresh, plump blueberry. Blueberries like this have a shorter shelf life, so they can't be bruised or past their prime. He's sorted into a small basket that will be sold at the local [[farmers market]] or [[grocery store]].

==><== <img src="https://imgur.com/cpPDils.gif" width="400" height="400"> <== Unfortunetly not all blueberries make the cute. Some are too small or bruised to be shipped out to consumers. Keeping bruised blueberries with good quality ones can cause the batch to rot sooner. Berry will join his unfit friends to be decomposed. Let's hope he can find a better ending in a [[new Story]].

==><== <img src="https://imgur.com/6IvK6qs.gif" width="400" height="400"> <== Frozen blueberries are well known to be the perfect ingredient for sweet treats. A great way to use frozen wild blueberries is to add them to your smoothies to give them added flavor and nutrients. Berry is just happy to help. Try a [[new Story]] to see what other ways Berry can be enjoyed.

==><== <img src="https://imgur.com/I0hWl06.gif" width="400" height="400"> <== Your local farmers market is a great place to buy quality foods, and help support farmers to continue doing what they love, and selling fresh crops. If you're lucky, you might find Berry and his friends at a wild blueberry stand. Berry has come a long way from the bush to make someone happy. People who buy wild blueberries use them to [[make treats]] or even [[eat them plain]]. How do you enjoy your blueberries?

==><== <img src="https://imgur.com/lKl1Qmd.gif" width="400" height="400"> <== At the grocery store, wild blueberries have to compete with highbush blueberries. Highbush blueberries are genetically modified to be bigger and last longer. They are not naturally grown in the wild, and are a great problem for wild blueberry farmers. So what will your choose? The natural [[wild blueberry]] or the giant [[highbush blueberry]].

==><== <img src="https://imgur.com/MsETAuW.gif" width="400" height="400"> <== Pies, muffins, bread, you name it. Blueberries are a popular ingredient to make pastries and deserts pop. Spread the joy of blueberries to your pets. Believe it or not, many animals naturally eat blueberries in the wild. Try giving your furry friend some and see how they like Berry. There are many treats out there to make, just like there are many endings to a wild blueberries journey. Try a [[new Story]] to find out other ways blueberries end up.

==><== <img src="https://imgur.com/91PIcu5.gif" width="400" height="400"> <== Some say there's no better way to enjoy wild Maine blueberries than eating them as they are. Wild blueberries alone are packed with nutrients and vitamins, so there is no shame in eating a big handful. Go on, get your fingers dirty. Berry is living out his ultimate goal, being enjoyed by people and animals alike. Try out a [[new Story]] to see what other fates can await a blueberry like Berry.

==><== <img src="https://imgur.com/835SmBh.gif" width="400" height="400"> <== Don't be fooled by the larger highbush blueberries, what they have in size, they lack in nutrients and flavor. Be wild and choose wild Maine blueberries. Not only are they better for you, but they help support the local farmer who works to save the crop. It's a harsh world out there for Berry and his wild gang, but if you buy wild, he won't have to worry. People who buy wild blueberries use them to [[make treats]] or even [[eat them plain]]. How do you enjoy your blueberries?

==><== <img src="https://imgur.com/aAZJeRQ.gif" width="400" height="400"> <== Although wild blueberries seem like the obvious choice, people sometimes choose highbush blueberries because of their size and convenience. Spoiler alert! Highbush blueberries lack the same flavor and nutrients that wild blueberries contain in their smaller form. Find out the true ending to a wild blueberry by trying a [[new Story]].