Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
Northern highbush blueberries are long-lived perennial shrubs suited to acidic, well-drained soils in the Northeast US, including zone 6a Western NY, requiring chill hours met by the region and capable of high yields with proper management.
Crop Snowflake Score
/acre
/acre
/acre
years
Overview
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
Climate Fit
Hardiness Zone Match
Zone 6a within crop range (3.0-7.0)
GDD Sufficient
GDD data not specified; crop is documented as viable in Zone 6a
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
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
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 | $1/per lb fresh |
| Gross Revenue/Acre | $3,640 |
| Annual Operating Cost | $4,250/acre |
| Establishment Cost | $4,000/acre |
| Total Input Cost | —/acre |
| Net Return/Acre | — |
| Revenue/Labor Hour | — |
| Crop Insurance | Available |
Source: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA RMA, regional budget studies (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
Risk data for this crop is being collected. Check back soon.
Nearby Buyers
Data sources: Data sourced from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA resources, and regional research.
Economics data year: 2025 · Region: Lake Erie (lake_erie)