8 Minutes, 18 Pounds of Blueberries

With your Southeast Regional Ag News, I am Haylie Shipp. This is the Ag Information Network.

Are you a fan of blueberries? Even if you grow them, I can bet this guy has you.

It is National Blueberry Month, a time to showcase how much people love blueberries in a qualitative and quantitative way. The Great American Blueberry Challenge, which kicked off at the start of the month, culminated in the first-ever blueberry eating championship on July 13. In partnership with Major League Eating, professional competitive eaters were invited to eat as many blueberries as possible in the span of eight minutes, setting a world record of 18.475 lbs.

Patrick Bertoletti took the top prize in the competition, earning a cash prize as well as the inaugural title of blueberry eating champion.

Eight minutes. Eighteen pounds. I don’t even know how that’s possible.

While competitive eating comes with the cautionary advice of “do not try this at home,” blueberry fans still have a chance to win a grand prize of $10,000 by celebrating National Blueberry Month in a different way. The Great American Blueberry Challenge social media contest runs through July 31 and is specifically for everyday consumers. They are inviting people to come up with social content showcasing unique ways to enjoy blueberries. Get all the details on how you can compete at https://www.greatamericanblueberrychallenge.com/home