By Malinda Geisler, content specialist, Ag Marketing Resource Center, Iowa State University.
 
Revised May 2010.


Overview

The lowbush species of blueberry is commonly referred to as wild blueberry. It is one of four fruit crops that is native to North America. The lowbush is a wild crop, which means it is not planted or selected, just managed intensely. Maine is the leading producer of lowbush blueberries in the world. In 2009, a total of 88.5 million pounds of wild blueberries was grown. The 2009 value of fresh and processed wild blueberries was $32 million.

Michigan is the number one state in highbush blueberries in the world. In 2009, Michigan grew a total of 99 million pounds of blueberries. Fresh and processed Michigan blueberries were valued at $101.8 million. Highbush varieties are established using two or three-year-old bare root or container-grown plants. Highbush blueberries require milder growing conditions compared to lowbush and many tend to be irrigated. In 2009, a total of 364.2 million pounds of cultivated (highbush) blueberries were grown in the United States. Fresh and processed blueberries were valued at $501.5 million.

According to the 2008 Organic Production Survey (USDA 2010), the United States had 526 certified organic farms growing cultivated (tame) blueberries. Total production was 5.9 million pounds. There were 516 farms that had total sales of $16.4 million.

According to the USDA, per person consumption of fresh blueberries in 2008 was 0.8 pound, while consumption of frozen blueberries was another 0.4 pound.

The United States exported 14,391 metric tons (MT) of fresh cultivated blueberries valued at $64 million in 2009 and 14,729 MT of fresh wild blueberries valued at $22.5 million. Canada was the number one buyer of fresh blueberry exports. In 2009, the United States exported 5,675 MT of frozen cultivated blueberries valued at $14.5 million and 3,397 MT of frozen wild blueberries valued at $7.7 million. Canada and Japan were the top buyers of frozen U.S. cultivated blueberries. Japan was the top customer for frozen wild U.S. blueberries.

The United States is a net importer of fresh and frozen blueberries. In 2009, the United States imported 56,001 MT of fresh cultivated blueberries valued at $233 million. More than half of the blueberries originated from Chile. The United States imported 4,449 MT of fresh wild blueberries, mostly from Canada, valued at $3.7 million. In 2009, the U.S. imported 19,763 MT of frozen cultivated blueberries valued at $41 million and 18,875 MT of frozen wild blueberries valued at $53 million. Canada was the number one source for both wild and cultivated frozen U.S. blueberry imports.


Sources

Fruits and Tree Nuts, Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA.

Global Agricultural Trade Statistics, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), USDA.

Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), USDA.

2008 Organic Production Survey, NASS, USDA, 2010.

U.S. per capita food availability, ERS, USDA, 2008.

Marketing

• Blueberries (Domestic Production & International Trade Info), FASonline, USDA. 
• U.S. Blueberry Industry, ERS, USDA - This site has production, consumption and world trade statistics.
• U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council - This grower association was established in 2002 to serve the U.S. blueberry industry and promote the consumption of blueberries.
• Wild Blueberry Association of North America - Since forming in 1981, this organization of growers and processors from Maine and Canada has promoted wild blueberries.

Production

• Blueberries Fruit Advisory Online Workshops, Missouri State University - This online workshop, divided into learning modules, provides step-by-step instruction on blueberry establishment.
• Blueberries: Organic Production, National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, 2004.
• Blueberry Cost & Return Studies, University of California-Davis.
• Blueberry Production for Local Sales and Small Pick-Your-Own Operators, North Carolina Cooperative Extension - This document provides general guidelines and includes sources for cuttings.
• Crop Profile for Blueberries in Tennessee, 2008.
• Growing Highbush Blueberries, University of Maine Cooperative Extension - This how-to online guide provides information for berry production in Northern New England.
• Michigan Blueberries, Michigan State University - This site lists numerous blueberry resources.
• Northwest Berry & Grape Information Network Blueberry Production - This site provides a thorough listing of blueberry topics including marketing options. 
• Postharvest Cooling and Handling of Blueberries, North Carolina State University - This bulletin explains postharvest handling procedures used in commercial blueberry production.
• Sample Costs to Establish and Produce Fresh Market Blueberries, University of California Cooperative Extension, 2009.

Businesses/Case Studies

• Blueberries, The New American Farmer, Sustainable Agriculture and Research Education (SARE), USDA - Describes the operations of four blueberry producers located throughout the United States.
• Blueberry Hill Farm, Berkshire County, Massachusetts - This pick-your-own blueberry farm raises three varieties of highbush blueberries and has grown blueberries for more than 50 years.
• Blueberry Hill Farms, Edom, Texas - This farm features a 10-acre you-pick blueberry orchard.
• Bluegrass Blueberries, Edmonton, Kentucky - This case study, prepared by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service in 2002, discusses how the owners plan to tackle future expansion of their own business first and then the Kentucky berry industry in general.
• Gillam Farms, Judsonia, Arkansas - This family farm consists of more than 500 acres of fruits and vegetables. Main crops consist of blackberries and blueberries.
• Merrill Blueberry Farms, Ellsworth, Maine - A fourth-generation operation whose harvested berries go through the Individually Quick Frozen method to preserve taste and nutrition.
• Springbank Farm, Lebanon, Oregon - This blueberry farm in Linn County, Oregon, used a VAPG award to study the feasibility of making and selling blueberry wine.
• The Tammen Treeberry Farm, Wilmington, Illinois - This farm markets cut-your-own Christmas trees and pick-your-own blueberries. Blueberries are grown on 50 acres and all are sold directly to customers.

Links checked May 2010.