University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural
Sciences
Consumers know some of the benefits blueberries provide, but
they're less aware of the advantages of reverting aging, improving vision and
memory, a new University of Florida study shows.
Shuyang Qu, a doctoral student in agricultural education and
communication at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural
Sciences, led the study.
Joining Qu were Joy Rumble, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of
agricultural education and communication, and Tori Bradley, a master's student
in the UF/IFAS food and resource economics department.
Rumble's Florida Specialty Crop grant gave the opportunity to examine consumers' knowledge of blueberry health benefits.
Qu and her colleagues wanted to determine how much consumers
know about blueberry health benefits and see if there's a knowledge gap with
blueberry health benefits among demographic groups. Using their findings, they
will identify promotional opportunities for Florida blueberries.
Researchers surveyed more than 2,000 people in 31 states --
mostly on the East Coast and in the Midwest -- to see what they know about the
health benefits of blueberries. Most were aware of the benefits of blueberries
in warding off cancer and lowering the risk of heart disease.
The UF/IFAS study
also found that low-income populations tend to know less about blueberry health
benefits.
"People being more familiar with blueberries as deterrents
for cancer and heart disease may be related to the high general awareness of
these two diseases," Qu said.
"The fact that cancer and heart
diseases are the leading causes of death in America may have led to more
personal research related to preventing the diseases, leading to the
respondents being exposed to these findings more than other benefits."
To help promote blueberries' health benefits, Qu and her
colleagues suggest holding events during blueberry season, such as tastings or
u-picks to draw consumers to the crop while providing a vehicle for information
about blueberry health benefits.