Total reported cultivated production in the United States reported by the USDA was 191.86 million pounds fresh and 156.8 million pounds processed for a total crop of 348.9 million pounds. In addition British Columbia, Canada had an average estimated cultivated crop of 70 million pounds despite the increase in the acreage. Michigan/Indiana had 113.8 million pounds which represents a bumper crop and greatly exceeds the 94.6 million pounds harvested in 2007. In New Jersey the crop was 59 million pounds, which was also slightly ahead of last year's crop of 54 million pounds. The crop on the Pacific Coast (CA, OR, WA) was reported at 89.1 million pounds which is slightly less than last year’s crop of 91.9 million pounds. The Southern States’ (AL, AR, FL, GA, MS, NC) crop was 84.5 million pounds, which is considerably more than the 76.1 million pounds in 2007. The total North American crop (wild and cultivated) is 665 million pounds, which exceeds the 535.8 million pounds harvested in 2007. (Source of US crop data: NASS/USDA, Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts 2008 Preliminary Summary, January 2009, pages 30-32) See: http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/NoncFruiNu/NoncFruiNu-01-23-2009.pdf
Wild Blueberry Spring Meeting Dates Set
The spring wild blueberry meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 18th in Waldoboro and Thursday, March 19th in Ellsworth from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and on Saturday, March 21st in Machias from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Details on the location and program will be included in the February 2009 Wild Blueberry Newsletter and on our website www.wildblueberries.maine.edu/calendar.html.
