Drought and poor pollination hit Maine’s wild blueberry crop
Maine’s wild blueberry industry is facing significant losses due to drought, poor pollination, and rising production costs. The state, which typically produces 99% of America’s wild blueberries, has seen an estimated $28 million loss in farmers’ income.
The state’s wild blueberry harvest is a one-time event, with the fruit available for sale for the next 12 months. In a normal year, Maine can harvest roughly 100 million pounds of wild blueberries. However, in 2025, production fell to just over half that amount.
The berries require specific weather conditions, including an inch of rain a week, but have only received a tenth of an inch. This has resulted in shriveled berries and reduced overall yields, collectively costing farmers millions.
The impact of the poor harvest is expected to be felt at the grocery store soon, with potential price increases and reduced availability of wild blueberries.