Blueberry crop ‘looking better’ Commissioner says economics will improve with bigger yield

MACHIAS – The market is looking up for Maine’s wild blueberry growers and processors.

This year’s crop is expected to be at or slightly above the five-year rolling average of about 75 million pounds, according to local growers. Harvest estimates are up from last year’s below-average 62 million-pound crop.

“It’s been a very difficult two years for Maine growers and processors, but our understanding is that we might have a better balance of fruit supply and demand,” said David Bell, executive director of the Maine Wild Blueberry Commission, on Tuesday.

“We’re really hoping that the tides will turn this year for growers and processors,” Bell said.

Ed Flanagan, president of Jasper Wyman & Son in Milbridge, said late last week that rain early in the season helped, “and then the cool nights that we’ve had here at the end of the month have really helped keep the berries nice and firm.”

Flanagan estimates this year’s crop will be somewhere in the 75 million- to 80 million-pound range. A colder and windier than average May made for poor pollination conditions, but decent weather and ample moisture at the end of July and into early August helped compensate.

“The challenges wild blueberry growers face are much greater than [those faced by] other growers,” Bell said. Wild blueberry crops are exposed to weather risks for two growing seasons plus the winter in between because they run on a two-year growing cycle.

With this year’s crop looking good, Bell is optimistic that the market will flourish too.

Flanagan expects his company will be processing berries almost through the end of this week Down East and a bit longer at its Prince Edward Island plant in Canada.

There have been days when his rakers have had to stop harvesting in order for the company to catch up with processing operations.

“That’s what happens when the crops are large. It outskirts the processing capacity,” Flanagan said. With this year’s early crop coming in a little late and the late crop ripening slightly early, it has made it difficult for processors to keep up with the rakers.

Although the Canadian market is still a concern, a governmental tariff investigation has been tabled until meetings can be held with officials in Quebec in early October in an attempt to solve the matter “amicably.”

“The market appears to be turning around very nicely,” Flanagan said. “The economics are looking better.”

The health benefits of blueberries have become a big selling point, and the Maine Wild Blueberry Commission has been promoting sale of blueberries in grocery stores.

Bell sees the future of blueberries in soy drinks and other health food items. He also hopes to see more people buying frozen berries to put on their cereal in the mornings and to use for baking.

“We have a big challenge in promoting the use to consumers,” Bell said.

Meanwhile drought conditions in Europe have affected that continent’s bilberry crop. Bilberries are similar to blueberries, and Bell is hopeful that will increase sales in the overseas market.