Wild blueberry production in Maine takes a dip in the face of drought
The wild blueberry is Maine's official state berry, and it's the subject of the promotional Wild Blueberry Weekend on Aug. 5 and 6.
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The wild blueberry is Maine's official state berry, and it's the subject of the promotional Wild Blueberry Weekend on Aug. 5 and 6.
The nation's production of wild blueberries slipped a bit last year as some growers in Maine contended with drought.
The nation's production of wild blueberries slipped a bit last year as some growers contended with drought. Wild blueberries are smaller than their cultivated cousins and are widely used in frozen and processed products such as smoothie mixes. Maine is the only state in the U.S. where the blueberries are harvested commercially.
Maine blueberry growers have faced numerous challenges in recent years, including fickle markets, climate change and competition from Canada.
The size of Maine’s wild blueberry harvest dropped by 26 percent, or 27.5 million pounds, in 2022 after hitting a near-record harvest the previous year, according to U.S. Department of