Prior to 1900, superior wild bushes were known to be cultivated, supplementing the wild harvested berries.
Though the native Indians used the prolific fruit as a dye, enjoyed it in stew, combined it with venison in a dish they called pemmican, and dried it, it was a Elizabeth White who domesticated the wild blueberry.
Before that Frederick V. Coville, selected and bred large-fruited cultivars after the turn of the century that form the foundation of today’s modern blueberry industry.
Dr. Frederick V. Coville, a botanist from the US Department of Agriculture began experimenting with blueberries in 1906.
In 1911, Elizabeth White read Dr. Coville’s publication describing the soil and climate conditions necessary to grow blueberries. The report titles “Experiments in Blueberry Culture’.
Elizabeth immediately recognized those characteristics as the same one existing in the Pine Barrens. She then invited Dr. Coville to conducts his experiments at their family farm. Elizabeth made her mind and no one would stop her in her quest to tame the highbush blueberries.
Together Dr. Coville and Elizabeth selected plants from the wild and made thousands of crosses between the plants they had in their selections. Many of the highbush blueberry varieties either their selections or are direct descendents from their crosses.
Founders of blueberry industry in United States
