New Jersey's blueberry season has started 10 days sooner than usual due to warm weather earlier in the year, according to the state's agriculture department.

New Jersey is the U.S.'s fourth-largest blueberry producer with 7,700 acres devoted to growing the fruit. Atlantic and Burlington counties are the main growing areas accounting for 95% of fruit harvested in 2011.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) statistics showed that last year New Jersey produced 62 million pounds of the fruit at a value of US$94.7 million.

In addition to a strong domestic market, New Jersery also exports blueberries to Canada.

USDA researchers found blueberries ranked first in antioxidant activity in comparison to 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables.

Antioxidants help neutralize harmful by-products of metabolism called "free radicals" that are associated with cancer and other age-related diseases.

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