Blueberries: Expensive Crop to Establish

Blueberries: Expensive Crop to Establish
Blueberries are harvested from both wild plants and cultivated varieties. In the United States, blueberry cultivation is mainly in New Jersey, Michigan and North Carolina.

Blueberry bushes require an acid soil and yield fruit the fist year after planting or the first year after the plants has established growth. There are many varieties of both high and low bush blueberries. The fruit of blueberry ripens 50-65 days after the blossom occur at the mill where small twigs and leaves are separated by air.

They are then graded for size, washed in a flotation-type washer, and passed over an inspection belt where green or partially ripe specimens are picked out by hand. Blueberries handled as the fresh product are usually hand-poured into small baskets holding 473ml or 946 ml. the baskets are then overwrapped with cellophane and the product is held at refrigerator temperatures above freezing. Fresh blueberries should be cooled to 32F – 35F and held at this temperature until sold to the consumer. Shelf life 4 – 8 weeks.

Blueberries are good fit for the diversified small farm. Interest in this nutritious and versatile berry is on the increase, as consumers discover its flavor and uses in fresh and home baking recipes. Botanically, blueberries are diverse, and the commercial types represent several different species. They are members of the Vacciniaceae, a sub-family of the Ericaceae family that includes many acid soil adapted plants such as azaleas and rhododendrons. Because of unique soil requirements, blueberries are naturally adapted to well-drained.
Blueberries: Expensive Crop to Establish