Blueberry production in United States

Blueberry cultivation in North America is thought to have started when Native Americans burned wild stands of native lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait. and V. myrtilloides Michx.) in Eastern North America to tend them and to increase production. European settlers began managing wild stands in the 19th century. Cultivation of rabbiteye blueberries (V. ashei Reade) began near the end of the 19th century.

The United States is the largest blueberry-producing country, accounting for over half of the global production. Because of the availability of cultivars suitable for very different climatic conditions, blueberry production is widely spread throughout the continental United States.

In 2016, the top seven blueberry-producing states in the United States were Washington (54,470 t), Oregon (52,690 t), Michigan (45,370 t), Georgia (30,400 t), California (24,560 t), North Carolina (20,900 t), and New Jersey (16,111 t). In the United States, 52% of blueberries were used fresh and 48% were processed.

In terms of consumption, the United States and Canada, respectively, are the main consumers of blueberries. Together, these two countries consume 76.82 percent of the global blueberry exports.

Fresh blueberries are available year-round to U.S. consumers due to regional growing areas in the U.S. and imports from other countries. North American blueberries are sold from April through October, with the peak season from mid-June to mid-August. South American blueberries are imported from November through March.

While the United States plays an important role on the international blueberry market as both exporter and importer, it is mainly a net blueberry importer. Domestic production and per-capita consumption of the fruit have followed an upward trend since 2000.
Blueberry production in United States