The Blueberry harvest is underway in New Jersey, it is a beautiful crop this year.

The Blueberry harvest is underway in New Jersey, and according to Atlantic County blueberry grower and New Jersey Farm Bureau member, Denny Doyle, it is a beautiful crop this year. The rain that fell in New Jersey over the last few weeks followed by current drier conditions is ideal for a good crop.  Doyle said, “We are going gangbusters now!”

“Blueberries are New Jersey’s state fruit, which readily identifies them as one of our state’s most important crops,” says Ryck Suydam, president of the Farm Bureau.  “The total value of our 2014 crop was $79.5-million, up 40 percent from 2013.  This year’s value could well surpass that, as pre-season weather spurred the crop’s growth. Our farmers are recognized as producing some of the best quality blueberries on the market, and they’re shipped throughout the US and Canada.”  New Jersey is known as a leading producer of the superior Highbush variety of blueberry.  In fact, the Highbush Blueberry was first cultivated for commercial production in New Jersey.

According to the 2012 US Department of Agriculture’ agriculture census, blueberries rank as the second most important commercial berry crop in the United States, with a total crop value of nearly $850.9 million in 2012. In 2012, the United States exported fresh blueberries valued at $145.7 million, a 17 percent increase from the previous year. Canada was the number one buyer, by far, followed by Japan.