The Ultimate Guide to Maine Wild Blueberries

Maine’s wild blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium) are more than just a fruit; they are an identity. Unlike the plump, watery “highbush” blueberries you find in most supermarkets (which are often cultivated in New Jersey or Michigan), Maine’s berries are “lowbush.” They are tiny, intensely blue, and explode with a sweet-tart flavor that their larger cousins can’t match.

Maine produces 99% of the wild blueberries in the United States, harvesting nearly 100 million pounds in a good year.

The Barrens

The berries grow naturally in massive fields called “barrens,” created by glaciers 10,000 years ago. These fields are not planted; they are managed.

• Downeast: The vast majority of the barrens are located in Downeast Maine (Washington and Hancock counties). Driving through towns like Cherryfield (the “Blueberry Capital of the World”), you will see rolling red-and-blue fields stretching to the horizon.
• Resilience: These plants are incredibly hardy. They thrive in the thin, acidic, rocky soil where almost nothing else will grow.

The Harvest (Raking)

Harvesting wild blueberries is back-breaking work traditionally done by hand.

• The Rake: Harvesters use a specialized metal rake—essentially a dustpan with vibrating metal tines—to comb through the low bushes and scoop up the berries.
• The Season: The harvest typically runs from late July through August. It is a race against time and weather.
• Modern Tech: While many fields are now harvested by machine, the hand-rake is still a symbol of the industry and is used on rocky or uneven terrain.

Health Benefits

Wild blueberries are often called the “King of Antioxidants.”

• Antioxidants: They have 2x the antioxidant capacity of ordinary cultivated blueberries.
• Nutrients: Packed with manganese, fiber, and Vitamin K.
• Brain Food: Studies have shown they may improve memory and brain function.

Where to Experience Them

1. Machias Wild Blueberry Festival: Held every August, this is the main event. Pie eating contests, blueberry musicals, and endless food.
2. Wild Blueberry Land (Columbia Falls): You can’t miss it—it’s a giant blueberry-shaped building on Route 1. It’s a bakery, museum, and gift shop all in one.
3. Pick-Your-Own: Many farms offer “rake your own” experiences.
   • Beddington Ridge Farm (Beddington)
   • Crabtree’s Blueberries (Sebago)
   • Steep Hill Farm (Pownal)

How Locals Eat Them

• Blueberry Pie: The Official State Dessert of Maine. It’s usually made simply, letting the berries shine.
• Pancakes: A diner staple. A real Maine blueberry pancake is purple through and through.
• Fresh: By the handful, warm from the sun.
• Needham: A traditional Maine candy (potato and coconut) often flavored with blueberry.

Whether frozen or fresh, once you taste a wild Maine blueberry, the big ones just won’t cut it anymore.