FOLSOM, CALIF. — For the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council’s latest marketing innovation, just ask Alexa.

The council has created A Blueberry Boost, a new skill for Alexa, Amazon’s voice-activated artificial intelligence (AI) service.

A Blueberry Boost allows consumers to ask Alexa any questions they have about blueberries, whether they’re about shopping, meal planning, baking, cooking or hosting an event. In response, Alexa provides council recipes, tips, kitchen hacks and more – often directing right to blueberry.org for more information. 

“A Blueberry Boost offers a personalized source of ideas and inspiration for eating more blueberries in more ways throughout the day,” said Jennifer Sparks, the council’s vice president of marketing and communications. “The new skill allows the industry to further engage and motivate blueberry enthusiasts of all ages to find a boost of blue.” 

To download the skill from a smartphone, users can open the Alexa app, tap the menu icon in the screen’s upper left corner, and then tap “Skills & Games.” On the Skills & Games screen, they can tap on the magnifying glass on top to bring up the search field, and type in the phrase “A Blueberry Boost.” Or, users can simply say to their Alexa device: “Alexa, add the skill: A Blueberry Boost.”