By Malinda Geisler, content specialist, Ag Marketing Resource Center, Iowa State University.
 
Reviewed May 2008.


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 2007, a total of 76.8 million pounds of wild blueberries was grown. The 2007 value of fresh and processed wild blueberries was $72 million.

Michigan is the number one state in highbush blueberries in the world. In 2007, Michigan grew a total of 93 million pounds of blueberries. Fresh and processed Michigan blueberries were valued at $165 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 2007, a total of 283 million pounds of cultivated (highbush) blueberries were grown in the United States. Fresh and processed blueberries were valued at $516.7 million.

According to the USDA, per person consumption of fresh blueberries in 2005 was 0.4 pound, while consumption of frozen blueberries was another 0.36 pound. 

Sources
Fruits and Tree Nuts, Briefing Room, ERS, USDA.

Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts, National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

Trends in the U.S. Blueberry Industry, Economic Research Service, USDA, 2003 - This brief report gives an overview of U.S. blueberry production and consumption.

Other Links

• 2008 Pest Management Guide for Commercial Small Fruits, Washington State University - This research-based document outlines cultural and chemical controls for raspberries as well as blueberries and strawberries. It includes integrated pest management methods for insects, diseases and weeds. 
• Blueberries (Domestic Production & International Trade Info), FASonline, USDA. 
• Blueberries Fruit Advisory Online Workshops, Missouri State University - This online workshop, divided into learning modules, provides step-by-step instruction on blueberry establishment.
• Blueberry Hill Farm, Berkshire County, Masschusetts - 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 blueberry orchard. Visitors can pick berries themselves or call in an order and have the farm pick berries in 10-pound increments.
• 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.
• Demand, Supply and Trade: National and Northwest Raspberries, Blueberries, Strawberries, Sweet Corn and Snap Beans, University of California and Oregon State University, 2004 - Reviews principal trends during the past two decades in the national and Pacific Northwest markets for selected berries and vegetables. The authors looked at the sources and types of apparent shifts in U.S. supply and demand for these products, and at the apparent effects of import competition on domestic production and prices.
• Evaluating the Profitability of Blueberry Production, North Carolina State University.
• 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.
• 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. 
• PlantFacts, Ohio State University - This Web site provides a full-text search engine of all extension and academic department information from all land-grant universities in the United States. Additionally, there are significant image and video databases, a FAQ database and a glossary.
• Postharvest Cooling and Handling of Blueberries, North Carolina State University - This bulletin explains postharvest handling procedures used in commercial blueberry production.
• 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.
• U.S. Blueberry Industry, ERS, USDA, February 2008.
• 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.
• Why Not Tame the Wild Blueberry?, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, University of Maine, 2000 - This research by the University of Maine was on different methods of propagating lowbush blueberry plants.
• Wild Blueberry Association of North America - Since forming in 1981, this organization of growers and processors from Maine and Canada has promoted wild blueberries.

Links checked February 2008.