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I don't know about bilberries, but lowbush blueberries ("wild"  
blueberries) grow in the wild in zone 4 in New England.  I haven't seen  
any research on eye disease, but there was intriguing research into  
(American) blueberries and degenerative brain malfunctions.  That is,  
old rats who ate lots of blueberries had improved memory and balance  
compared to old rats who didn't.  The study was small but quite  
impressive.  There's a larger study under way now.  So there may well  
be something in blueberries that's good for degenerative diseases.

Ginda

On Thursday, May 1, 2003, at 11:37  AM, mIEKAL aND wrote:

> will bilberry make it in zone 4?
>
>
> On Thursday, May 1, 2003, at 10:38 AM, Moyer, Richard wrote:
>
> > Del,
> > Bilberry is closely related to a number of other wild 'blueberries'  
> > which
> > grow in N. America.  See this site for more info, note the contact of  
> > Danny
> > Barney.  He is trialing a number of these and can tell you what  
> > should work
> > at your site, plus availability.
> > http://berrygrape.oregonstate.edu/fruitgrowing/berrycrops/ 
> > huckleberry/huckle
> > plnt.htm; extensive research links at this site.
> >
> > Be aware that most (if not all) the antioxidant chemicals in bilberry  
> > are
> > found in related, native blueberries/huckleberries, and that roughly
> > speaking, pigment=antioxidant.  The skin is where these chemicals are
> > concentrated, so if your relative wants to get the most of these
> > antioxidants, go with small berries and/or larger amounts of readily
> > available blueberries.
> > "Wild blueberries" are available frozen year round.  See link below.
> > Also price the boxed muffin/coffecake mixes at the grocery as a  
> > source of
> > small/very small blueberries.  Make sure you are buying real berries  
> > and not
> > imitations.  Some have the precooked berries in a sealed container.
> >
> > Freezing and even drying preserves these chemicals well.   
> > Cooking/grinding
> > releases the chemicals from the skin, and preserves the majority of  
> > the
> > antioxidants.  Hence regular servings of low sugar jam/sauces a  
> > pleasing
> > alternative to bilberry pills.
> >
> > Remember that small berries pack up to 10X the antioxidant punch of  
> > the
> > larger blueberries we commonly find in fresh pints in the store, due  
> > to all
> > that skin.  For antioxidants per cup, smaller is better.
> >
> > Also, blackberries, blackcurrants, cherries, grapes, most any
> > red/blue/purple fruits are good sources of same or similar  
> > antioxidants.  We
> > had mulberry/Juneberry cobbler last night.  Eat more fruits!!  (Let's  
> > not
> > pit one fruit against another.)
> >
> > In summary, odds are that any wild Vaccinium (blueberries) with  
> > blue/purple
> > fruits growing in your/her area will deliver the antioxidants she is
> > seeking.  Smaller fruit the better.
> > The Japanese have been gaga over our native blueberries for their eye
> > health, and we are doing the same over 'European' blueberries  
> > (bilberries)
> > with most if not all the same chemicals as our underused natives.  
> > Guess the
> > grass is always greener, and the blueberries bluer, if they are  
> > foreign.
> >
> > Disclaimer:  I've oversimplified the work of folks researching
> > bilberry/Vaccinium phytochemicals; my apologies!
> > A few add'l links:
> > http://webreprints.djreprints.com/738920785548.html  Good recent Wall  
> > Street
> > Journal article.
> > http://www.agr.gc.ca/cb/radio/archive/feb14_e.phtml Brief report of  
> > Canadian
> > berry-health findings.
> > http://www.wildblueberries.com/ Many health links; promotional site.
> > www.blueberry.org; click on "healthy blueberries" in upper right.
> >
> > Richard Moyer
> > Zone 6, Bristol, TN
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