Food & Cooking Food News & Trends Pickleball Now Has an Official Food—and It's Not What You'd Expect Hint: it's not pickles. By Alexandra Lemer Alexandra Lemer Alexandra is an editorial intern at Martha Stewart. As an avid reader, she enjoys researching and writing about a broad range of topics. A rising junior at the University of Pennsylvania studying Religious Studies and English, Alexandra writes for Under the Button (a satire magazine within the college newspaper: The Daily Pennsylvanian) and The WALK (a fashion magazine). Editorial Guidelines Published on June 18, 2024 Close Photo: andreswd/Getty Pickleball, America's fastest-growing sport, recently declared its very own official fruit: the blueberry. The partnership between Major League Pickleball and The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) aims to increase public awareness of the health benefits of blueberries among pickleball enthusiasts, encouraging them to eat more for a healthy and active lifestyle. "Pickleball is a hugely popular sport that inspires excitement and passion—in the same way we know many people are superfans of blueberries for their deliciousness and health benefits," Kasey Cronquist, president of USHBC said in a press release. Cronquist hopes that this partnership will "motivate consumers to grab a boost of blue, whether they’re a fan of playing pickleball, watching it, or both." Blueberries Really Are a Superfood—Here's What Makes Them So Good for You (and How to Use and Store Them) Blueberries have a wealth of health benefits and one of the best sources of antioxidants—beneficial compounds that fight free radicals—says Amy Moyer, M.Ed, RDN, LDN, CCMS, a registered dietitian and assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Free radicals are harmful molecules that damage DNA and cells ad can cause oxidative stress, a major contributor to chronic conditions like cancer and heart disease. However, antioxidants (like those found in blueberries) can fight these, paving the way for improved health. Ready to add more blueberries to your diet? Try making one of these favorite blueberry recipes: Our Favorite Blueberry Recipes Blueberry Crumble Blueberry Cupcakes Blueberry-Oatmeal Muffins Blueberry Lattice Pie Blueberry Tart Blueberry Preserves Oven-Dried Blueberries 45 Berry Desserts You'll Want to Make All Summer Long Lemon Blueberry Muffins 1 of 3 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Martha Stewart is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources—including peer-reviewed studies—to support the facts in our articles. Read about our editorial policies and standards to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Sharifi-Rad M, Anil Kumar NV, Zucca P, et al. Lifestyle, oxidative stress, and antioxidants: back and forth in the pathophysiology of chronic diseases. Front Physiol. 2020;11:552535.