Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
Northern highbush blueberries are long-lived perennial shrubs suited to acidic, well-drained soils in Zones 3-7, requiring adequate chill hours and capable of high yields with proper management. Plants have shallow root systems rarely extending deeper than 24 inches, making consistent moisture critical.
Crop Snowflake Score
/acre
/acre
/acre
years
Overview
Northern highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) require strongly acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.0) and are intolerant of soils above pH 6.2. Chill hour requirements range from 800-1,000 hours below 45°F for northern types. Plants need 1-2 inches of water per week throughout the growing season, with particular attention during bloom through harvest. Shallow root systems (top 12 inches of soil) make mulching essential for moisture retention and temperature regulation. First commercial crop typically at year 3 (~2,000 pints/acre), reaching peak production by year 5 (6,000+ pints/acre under optimum conditions). Productive lifespan can exceed 50 years. Mature plants reach 4-8 feet tall. Key pests include spotted wing drosophila, mummy berry, and blueberry maggot. Bird netting is often essential for commercial production. Propagation is typically from softwood cuttings.
Growing Season
- Plant
- Early spring (March-April) – Early spring (March-April)
- Harvest
- Late June - late September – Late June - late September
- Frost-free days
- 160+
Yield
- Typical yield
- 4,000 lbs/acre
- Productive lifespan
- 20 years
- Years to full prod.
- 6
- Labor
- 43 hrs/acre
Market Fit
Active Regional Buyers
Established crop with known regional buyers
Price Trend Stable/Up
Price trending upward due to growing demand
Supply Below Demand
Strong unmet demand regionally and nationally
Multiple Buyer Channels
Multiple market channels: wholesale, retail, processing, and/or direct
Value-Added Potential
Strong value-added potential through processing, direct sales, or specialty products
Market Growth Projected
Strong market growth projected
Market Channels
Climate Fit
Hardiness Zone Match
Region's hardiness zone within crop range (3.0-7.0)
GDD Sufficient
GDD data not specified; crop is documented as viable at the regional hardiness zone
Precipitation Compatible
Regional precipitation (~40 in/yr) compatible with crop needs
Frost-Free Season OK
Frost-free season (160 days) meets crop requirement (160 days)
Chill Hours Met
Regional chill hours (1100) meet crop requirement (650+)
Climate Trend Favorable
Climate projections remain favorable for this crop in the region
Soil Compatibility
Soil Texture
Drainage
Infrastructure Fit
Equipment Compatible
Standard farm equipment compatible or easily adapted
Storage Available
Cold storage needed; may require investment
Irrigation Compatible
Irrigation beneficial; existing vineyard irrigation systems adaptable
Field Layout Suitable
Vineyard field layouts suitable for this crop
Labor Availability
High labor requirements; seasonal labor availability may be challenging
Processing Proximity
No nearby specialized processing; may need direct marketing or shipping
Equipment Requirements
planting
Site prep, mowing, spraying, mulching. Shared across small-fruit operations; not crop-specific.
Blueberries require soil pH 4.5-5.2. Elemental sulfur applications are routine before planting and as maintenance. Standard PTO spreader works.
irrigation
Cost per acre. Drip preferred over overhead to minimize foliar disease. Acidified water injection sometimes used in alkaline source-water situations.
spraying
Foliar fungicide and insecticide applications. Air-blast sprayer is an upgrade for larger plantings (>5 ac).
cultivation
Annual mulch maintenance is critical for moisture retention and soil acidity. Side-discharge or pull-type spreader appropriate.
harvesting
Fresh-market berries are hand-picked into shallow pails to avoid crushing. Cost is for initial inventory; consumable over time.
Used only for processing-grade berries. Not economical below ~10 acres of dedicated processing plantings. Custom-harvest services available in major production regions.
post_harvest
Field heat removal within 2-4 hours of harvest doubles fresh shelf life. Critical for direct-market and wholesale quality.
Walk-in cold storage for staging fresh berries. Frozen storage adds value-added options for processed products.
general
Bird depredation can exceed 25% of yield without protection. Permanent netting on posts is most effective; propane cannons less so over time.
Storage Requirements
Fresh cold storage
Temperature
32–33°F
Humidity
90–95%
Max Storage
14 days
Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP)
Temperature
32–33°F
Humidity
90–95%
Max Storage
28 days
Frozen (IQF)
Temperature
-10–0°F
Max Storage
365 days
Finance Fit
Revenue Above Average
Gross revenue ($3,640/acre) exceeds regional average
Input Costs Acceptable
Annual operating costs ($4,250/acre) within typical farm budgets
Payback Period OK
Long establishment period (6 years); extended payback
Insurance Available
Federal crop insurance available
Revenue Per Labor Hour
Revenue per labor hour ($85) is competitive
Grants/Subsidies
Grant and subsidy programs available (Specialty Crop Block Grant, EQIP, Beginning Farmer, etc.)
Economics Breakdown
| Avg Price/Unit | $2/per lb (blended fresh/processing avg) |
| Gross Revenue/Acre | $7,360 |
| Annual Operating Cost | $5,146/acre |
| Establishment Cost | $9,911/acre |
| Total Input Cost | —/acre |
| Net Return/Acre | $2,214 |
| Revenue/Labor Hour | — |
| Crop Insurance | Available |
Source: Rutgers NJAES FS1311 Blueberry Enterprise Budget, USDA NASS NJ 2023 Blueberry Statistics (2025)
Risk Fit
Manageable Pest/Disease
Moderate pest/disease pressure; manageable with available methods
Market Diversified
Market access diversified across multiple channels
Low Establishment Risk
Moderate establishment risk; manageable with planning
Climate Resilient
Moderate climate resilience for the region
Regulatory Burden Low
Minimal regulatory burden for production and sale
Diversifies Portfolio
Diversifies farm revenue away from grape monoculture
Known Risks
pest
Invasive vinegar fly that lays eggs in intact ripening fruit, unlike native Drosophila. Established across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia since 2008. Can render fruit unmarketable within days.
North American native fruit fly. Females lay eggs under fruit skin; larvae feed inside fruit causing rejection at packing houses. Quarantine pest in export markets.
Starlings, robins, cedar waxwings, and other birds can consume 20-50% of unprotected crop. Damage is often rapid and catastrophic during ripening window.
disease
Fungal disease with two-phase infection: shoot strikes in spring followed by fruit infection. Infected berries turn tan, shrivel, and mummify. Primary overwintering inoculum in mummified berries on ground.
Gray mold infects blossoms during cool, wet bloom periods, causing flower death and reduced fruit set. Also causes post-harvest fruit rot affecting shelf life.
weather
Highbush blueberry flower buds damaged below -15°F (-26°C). Severe winters can reduce crop 30-70% in northern production areas. Climate volatility increases freeze-thaw damage.
environmental
Blueberries require acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.2). Irrigation water, fertilizers, and natural buffering can raise pH over time, causing iron/manganese deficiency, yellowing, and decline.
market
Massive production expansion in Peru, Mexico, Chile, and Morocco has created year-round fresh supply. North American summer prices under pressure. Processing prices often below production cost.
Nutritional Yield
Nutrition data pending.
Research agents will profile Blueberry against USDA FoodData Central on the next maintenance pass. Per-acre nutritional yield will appear here once the per-100g panel is recorded.
Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem service data pending.
The next research-agent rotation will document this crop's contributions to pollinator support, soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
Nearby Buyers
Data Sources
Every data point on this page is traceable to its source. Below you'll find the complete provenance trail — which sources were used, when data was last verified, and a full change history.
Primary sources: Data sourced from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA resources, and regional research.
Economics data year: 2025 · Region: lake_erie View economics source →
63 tracked changes across 9 data categories