US: New Jersey blueberry season starts early

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher today announced that blueberries, the official state fruit, are now in season and available at local farm markets, roadside stands, pick-your-own farms and supermarkets. The harvest began ten days sooner than normal, due to the unusually warm weather experienced earlier this year.

“Jersey Fresh blueberries are always eagerly awaited,” said Secretary Fisher. “Our exceptional blueberries taste great and can be used to make a variety of dishes including salads, oatmeal, and homemade pies.”

New Jersey is one of the country’s top cultivators of blueberries. According to the National Agriculture Statistics Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, 62 million pounds of blueberries were produced last year on 7,700 acres with a value of $94.7 million.

New Jersey ranks fourth in the nation in blueberry production. Atlantic and Burlington Counties are the main harvesters of the state fruit, accounting for 95 percent of the blueberry acres harvested in 2011.

The major varieties of blueberries grown in New Jersey include Blue Crop and Duke, named for one of the founders of Atlantic Blueberry Company in Hammonton.

New Jersey is also a major exporter of blueberries to Canada, which heralds the arrival of the harvest each year.

For more information:
Lynne Richmond
NJ Dept.of Agriculture
Tel: 001 609 633 2954
[email protected]