Maine blueberry growers expecting big harvest

12:09 PM, Jul 28, 2012   |    comments
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PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Maine's wild blueberry growers are expecting their biggest harvest in more than a decade.

Blueberry specialist David Yarborough of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension says this year's crop is expected to come in at 90 million to 95 million pounds.

A 90 million-pounds yield would be the biggest crop since 2000, when production topped 110 million pounds.

The harvest in recent years has averaged about 80 million to 85 million pounds.

Growers last year harvested 83 million pounds valued at $75 million.

Maine is the country's top wild blueberry state by far. Wild blueberries grow naturally in Maine and eastern Canada and are different from cultivated berries, which are larger and grow on high bushes.

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