Q. Does Canada really need a national fruit?

A. Yes! We should be proud of the special things that are native to Canada and that have found a place in the culture of Canadians in all corners of our country.

Q. Is the blueberry the right choice?

A. Absolutely! There is no other fruit that is native to every single province and territory. There is no other fruit that is cherished equally by English, French and aboriginal Canadians. There is no other fruit that is honoured in annual festivals and celebrations to the same extent as the blueberry.  Since 1996, according to Statistics Canada, blueberries rank as the number one fruit crop in the country.

Q. Is the blueberry a truly national fruit?

A. When I went to visit Iqaluit in Nunavut and had a chance to see and explore the tundra it was amazing to see the blueberries and the excitement of the local Inuit picking them. I already knew of the place of the blueberry in the hearts of the people of the south of our country. It was then that I realized how national the blueberry really is.

Q. What about the apple?

A. Is the apple really something unique and special that we can be proud of as Canadians? Do apple trees grow in Nunavut, NWT or the Yukon? Isn't it said that something is as "American as apple pie"? 

Q. What about the other fruits?

A. OK, which one? Which other fruit touches the culture of all Canadians to the same extent as the blueberry?

Q. Is blue really a Canadian colour?

A. What colour is maple syrup? What colour is a beaver?

Q. Don’t blueberries we buy come from the United States?

A. Yes, some of them do. Canada and the U.S. each produce roughly half of all the blueberries grown globally.  It’s likely, especially in summer, that what you find in the stores is homegrown.