Wild blueberries are grown on a two-year cycle—each year, half of a grower’s land is managed to encourage vegetative growth and the other half is prepared for harvest. And it all starts with winter. Short on sunlight, long on bitter cold, the season is not for the faint of heart. It’s these conditions that push the Maine wild blueberry to build up the protective antioxidants and anthocyanins that make this tiny berry a superfood bursting with flavor.

Photo Credit: Bill Maley, Cherryfield Foods

As winter loosens its grip, bits of green pop up all around the patches of melting snow. Millions of bees begin their work, pollinating the bushes which hug the ground, ready to restart the cycle of growth that’s happened every year for 10,000 years. These bees, including native bumble bees and honey bees, are very important to wild blueberry growers, who take care to preserve wild bees through conservation practices.

Photo Credit: David Bell, Cherryfield Foods

Soaking in the daylight of Maine summer sun, wild blueberry bushes explode in shades of purple and blue. This is when Maine wild blueberries are picked at the peak of freshness, sold at farmers’ markets or flash frozen to lock in all the good that’s been growing all season long. Wild blueberries are sorted, cleaned, and processed within hours of being picked.

Photo Credit: Courtney Hammond, Lynch Hill Farms

As the coolness in the air returns, it sends a signal to prune the bushes low and prepare for the long winter ahead. Strongly committed to best agricultural practices, wild blueberry growers use sustainable management techniques to ensure healthy crops and to protect wild blueberry lands for future generations.

Photo Credit: David Bell, Cherryfield Foods