Blueberry eating competition sets a world
record; $10,000 still up for grabs in
nationwide social media contest for everyday blueberry
lovers
GRAND
RAPIDS, Mich., July 15,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In one of the most exciting
celebrations of National Blueberry Month yet, the U.S. Highbush
Blueberry Council (USHBC) is shining a spotlight on how – and
how much – people love blueberries. The Great American Blueberry
Challenge, which kicked off at the start of the month to inspire
blueberry lovers nationwide to share creative ways to grab a boost
of blue, culminated in the first-ever blueberry eating championship
on Saturday, July 13. USHBC, in
partnership with Major League Eating, invited professional
competitive eaters from across the country to gather in
Grand Rapids, Mich. to eat as much
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. An impressive total
of 82.769 lbs of blueberries were devoured by the competitors
during the event, with a final ranking as follows:
- First place: Patrick
Bertoletti, 18.475 lbs
- Second place: Geoffrey
Esper, 16.044 lbs
- Third place: James Webb,
15.319 lbs
- Fourth place: Nick Wehry,
12.600 lbs
- Fifth place: Gideon Oji,
12.569 lbs
The Great American Blueberry Challenge eating championship took
place during the Advil Targeted Relief Major League Pickleball
(MLP) Mid-Season Tournament, as part of USHBC's partnership with
MLP. Also featured at the event were special guest officiants
Shelly Hartmann, chair of the U.S.
Highbush Blueberry Council, blueberry grower and owner of True Blue
Farms in Michigan; and
professional pickleball player Anna
Bright of the MLP St. Louis Shock.
"While we work to generate excitement for blueberries all year
long, we think National Blueberry Month makes July the biggest and
best month of the year, and we know that many blueberry superfans
feel the same way! What better way to capture that enthusiasm than
with a thrilling spectacle that turns 'grab a boost of blue' into a
literal sport – while at the same time engaging pickleball players
and fans as the Official Fruit of Major League Pickleball," said
Hartmann. "Whether you enjoy blueberries for an active lifestyle,
or simply because they're delicious, we hope to inspire and grow
even more love and passion for blueberries year after year."
While the sport of professional competitive eating comes with
the cautionary advice of "do not try this at home," blueberry fans
still have a chance to win big – a grand prize of $10,000 plus runners-up prizes – by celebrating
National Blueberry Month in a different way that can be just as fun
and more creative. The Great American Blueberry Challenge social
media contest runs through July 31
and is specifically for everyday consumers. USHBC invites people to
think of an idea that shows off a creative, unique or even
downright wacky way to enjoy blueberries – for example, seeing how
high you can blow a blueberry up in the air, or eating blueberries
with chopsticks while blindfolded. To enter, participants must
share their video on Instagram, tagging @blueberries and including
#BlueberryChallengeContest in the post. More information is
available at GreatAmericanBlueberryChallenge.com.
To learn more about blueberries and explore delicious recipes,
swaps and other inspiration, visit Blueberry.org.
About the U.S. Highbush Blueberry
Council
The U.S. Highbush
Blueberry Council is an agriculture promotion group,
representing blueberry growers and packers in North and
South America who market their
blueberries in the United States
and overseas, and works to promote the growth and well-being of the
entire blueberry industry. The blueberry industry is committed to
providing blueberries that are grown, harvested, packed and shipped
in clean, safe environments. Learn more at
blueberrycouncil.org.
Media contact:
Katie Hill
Padilla
katie.hill@padillaco.com
(646) 218-6010
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-great-american-blueberry-challenge-inspires-blueberry-fanaticsand-professional-competitive-eatersto-win-big-for-national-blueberry-month-302196574.html
SOURCE U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council