Blueberries contain pigments called anthocyanins, which are responsible for their dark purple color. These pigments absorb specific wavelengths of light, including red, orange, and yellow, while reflecting blue and purple wavelengths to our eyes.

We finally understand why blueberries are blue — and the secret lies not in the flesh or skin, but the waxy coating around it. Blueberries have a particularly distinctive color — hence their name. But blue is a rare color in nature and few naturally occurring organic compounds give living things this color.

Wild blueberries are harvested from late July to early September in Maine. Harvesting is still mainly by hand rake- a close-tined special RAKE invented about 112 years ago by a local Downeaster, Abijah Tabbutt and modified in minor variations since then.

While some fruits do appear blue, few contain pigments in that color. Blueberries, for instance, contain a heaping amount of anthocyanin (An-thoh-SY-uh-nin). That skin pigment should leave each sphere a dark red. But if you rub off the outer layer of wax, a blueberry no longer looks blue — or red.