Wild Blueberries vs Organic Blueberries – Which One Should You Buy?

Many people ask what the difference between wild blueberries vs organic blueberries is. Are wild blueberries better? Are organic blueberries better? Which one should I buy, organic, wild, or conventional blueberries? This article will answer all of these questions and explain all you need to know about the difference between organic vs non organic blueberries, and wild blueberries vs organic blueberries.

Organic Blueberries vs Regular (non organic blueberries)

Regularly cultivated blueberries, or non organic or conventional blueberries, are typically cultivated in greenhouses or outdoor fields. As with other conventional produce, pesticides and fertilizers are commonly used to increase the yield, control pests, and enhance the visual looks of the produce. For this reason, it is very important to always wash them thoroughly. Unfortunately, it is not easy to wash out all chemicals and pesticides. These chemicals often end up in the flesh of the berry and of course, in our bodies. Regular consumption of berries with small quantities of chemicals add up and may lead to several health issues in the long term.

Organic blueberries also grow in greenhouses or outdoor fields, but organic farmers can only use natural fertilizers and pesticides. Overall, organic blueberries are a safer option and may have a higher nutritional value than non organic blueberries. However, there is an even better option than organic blueberries. Wild blueberries!

Wild Blueberries vs Organic Blueberries (Cultivated)

Many people wonder what the difference between wild blueberries and organic blueberries is. Below we explain these differences in terms of their origin, nutritional value, taste, and potential toxicity concerns.

Species: There are over 30 species of blueberries around the world. You can read more about the different species in our blog post Blueberry vs bilberry. Organic blueberries are typically cultivated species of the high bush family, which are very different from wild blueberries.
Nutritional value: Wild blueberries are clearly the winner here because they have a significantly higher nutritional value than cultivated blueberries, whether organic or not. It is important to highlight that the term “organic” is not a synonym for “healthy” or “nutritious”. Organic certification is a compliance term that does not necessarily guarantee the nutritional value of a product but reassures the buyer that certain practices have been followed during the cultivation period.
Taste: Wild blueberries grow in harmony with nature for thousands of years without irrigation, cultivation, or use of additional fertilizers. Because of this, wild blueberries have a more intense taste than organic or non organic cultivated blueberries.
Color: Organic cultivated blueberries have white, green, or light purple flesh inside. On the contrary, wild blueberries have dark purple or blue color flesh. The color difference indicates higher (darker flesh) or lower (lighter flesh) nutritional value. If you want to know why the color of the flesh is so important, check our blog post What color are blueberries inside.
Use of pesticides or fertilizers: Wild blueberries grow by default in conditions where no pesticides or fertilizers are used. They are wild. However, it is good to consider their country or area of origin. Forest management practices may differ from country to country and this will impact the quality of the produce. Choose a region or country you trust for its clean environment. On the contrary, organic farming allows the use of natural fertilizers, pest controls, and irrigation. It is also important to know that organic certification standards are significantly different between the USA, European Union, China, and other countries. Therefore, organic blueberries from China may have higher amounts of residual pesticides than those coming from the EU, or vice versa.
Chemical toxicity concerns: Wild blueberries are clearly the winner because they grow in forests without human activity at all. Organic cultivated blueberries are also a good alternative, given that they come from countries you trust their organic certification standards.

If you would like to learn more, you can read this extensive article on wild blueberries vs blueberries.

Wild Blueberries vs Wild Organic Blueberries

You may have seen wild blueberries that are organic as well. Is there a difference between wild blueberries and wild “organic” blueberries? As a reminder, the term organic is proof of compliance that certain practices are followed during cultivation. For wild blueberries that grow in countries with clean forests (e.g., Finland or Canada), such a certificate does not add any value. However, it may make a difference if wild blueberries come from countries where pollution of their nature is an issue.

To explain this a bit better, let’s take the example of Finland which has the cleanest forests in the world! Wild berries that grow in Finnish forests are by nature “organic” because no human activity takes place in these forests. Therefore, whether certified or not, these wild blueberries are as clean as it gets. However, for someone unfamiliar with the Finnish forests, an organic certification may help build quality trust. In summary, wild blueberries are organic by nature, and adding a certification provides a marketing and not quality benefit.

Are Wild Blueberries Better?

All blueberries are good for your health, but wild blueberries are your best choice! Many people find the taste of wild blueberries better and more intense than cultivated blueberries (organic or not). In addition, wild blueberries have a much higher nutritional value than cultivated blueberries, which makes them a true superfood. They are much richer in antioxidants, vitamins, fiber, and other micronutrients than cultivated regular or organic blueberries. In fact, they have 4 times the amount of vital antioxidants compared to cultivated blueberries. You can read more about the difference in our blog post wild blueberries vs blueberries.

Wild blueberry powder, also called bilberry powder, by Arctic Flavors. A teaspoon of this wild blueberry powder equals a handful of fresh wild blueberries. This wild blueberry powder is made from 100% whole berries and has no added preservatives or sugars. This bilberry powder is suitable for vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, paleo, raw, and heavy metal detox diets.

Final words

In summary, blueberries – and especially the wild ones – are an amazing superfood. Because of their unique health benefits, including them in your daily diet is an excellent decision and an investment in your future health. The easiest way to enjoy the benefits of wild blueberries is with Arctic Flavors’ premium quality wild blueberry powder. Made from 100% whole wild blueberries that grow in the pure forests of Finland, our blueberry powder is one of the most sustainable and safest ways to enjoy blueberries.