Craving the flavor of fresh blueberries in winter? Now you'll find fresh blueberries in the market just about every day of the year! Although the domestic harvest ends in October, fresh blueberries are still available in the U.S., thanks to an abundant supply from farms in South America. Because the Southern Hemisphere enjoys summer weather October through April, blueberries grow there while it's winter in the North.

More than 90 million pounds of blueberries were imported into the U.S. last year, from South America, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Chile accounted for 81% of the imports, followed by Argentina at 18%. A small amount was also imported from Uruguay and Peru.

In the 1980s, the first blueberry acres were planted in Chile, where clear blue skies, hot days and cool nights make growing conditions ideal. Since then, the number of acres planted with blueberry bushes has skyrocketed. In 2003, for example, there were 5,200 acres; in 2009, that number grew to nearly 27,000 acres! Production areas stretch from Copiapó in the north to Puerto Montt in the South. The main production areas is the Bio Bio region.

In Chile, tons of blueberries are harvested by hand and machine, packaged in clean, modern packinghouses, and flown or shipped to North American ports for distribution throughout the U.S.

Take the 2-minute video tour to see how blueberries are grown and packaged in Chile

Winter fresh blueberries have the same high quality you find in summer.

Look for firm, plump, dry berries with smooth skins and the "silvery bloom" which is nature's way of protecting the fruit and indicates freshness. Refrigerate them in their original plastic packs as soon as you get them home. Wash blueberries just before use and use within 10 days of purchase.