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. This isn’t just agriculture—it’s a defining feature of Downeast Maine’s landscape, economy, and culture.

What Makes Wild Blueberries Different

Size and Flavor

Wild blueberries are significantly smaller than cultivated highbush varieties—often no bigger than a pea. But what they lack in size, they make up for in intensity. The flavor is concentrated, with a balance of sweetness and tartness that makes cultivated berries taste watered down by comparison.

They Grow Wild

Despite the name, wild blueberries aren’t exactly “wild” in the sense of being unmanaged. Growers don’t plant them—the plants are native to the land, spreading naturally through underground runners called rhizomes. Farmers manage the fields, control pests, and burn the barrens every other year to stimulate growth, but the plants themselves have been here since the glaciers retreated 10,000 years ago.

Nutritional Powerhouse

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

Antioxidants: They have twice the antioxidant capacity of cultivated blueberries.
Nutrients: Packed with manganese, fiber, and Vitamin K.
Brain Food: Studies have shown they may improve memory and cognitive function.
Low Calorie: About 80 calories per cup, with no fat.

The Barrens

The berries grow naturally in massive fields called “barrens”—rolling, treeless expanses created by glaciers 10,000 years ago. The thin, acidic, rocky soil that’s useless for most agriculture is perfect for wild blueberries.

Where to Find Them

Downeast Maine: The vast majority of the barrens are located in Washington and Hancock counties. Driving through towns like Cherryfield (the self-proclaimed “Blueberry Capital of the World”), you’ll see rolling fields stretching to the horizon—red with dormant plants in spring, green in early summer, and blue with ripening berries in August.

Other Regions: Smaller barrens exist in other parts of Maine, but Downeast dominates the industry.

The Landscape

The barrens are unlike anything else in Maine. In harvest season, the fields turn an impossible shade of blue, dotted with workers bent over their rakes. Hawks circle overhead, hunting voles that live in the fields. The air smells of sweet berries warming in the sun. It’s a landscape that has looked essentially the same for generations.

The Harvest

The Season

The harvest typically runs from late July through August, though timing varies with weather. It’s a race against time—the berries must be picked before they overripen or fall prey to early frost.

Hand Raking

Traditional harvesting is done with a specialized metal rake—essentially a dustpan with vibrating metal tines that comb through the low bushes and scoop up the berries. It’s back-breaking work:

Workers bend low to the ground for hours
Experienced rakers can harvest 100-200 pounds per day
Pay is typically by the pound, incentivizing speed and efficiency
Migrant workers from Central America and the Caribbean make up much of the workforce

Mechanical Harvesting

While many fields are now harvested by machine—walk-behind or ride-on harvesters that use rotating tines—the hand-rake remains essential for rocky, uneven terrain where machines can’t go. Some producers also prefer hand-raking for its gentler touch on the berries.

The Burn Cycle

Wild blueberry fields are managed on a two-year cycle. After harvest, the barrens are burned or mowed to stimulate new growth. The following year, the plants grow back vegetatively (no berries), building energy. The year after that, they produce fruit again. This means only half of any operation’s acreage produces berries in a given year.

Where to Experience Wild Blueberries

Festivals and Events

Machias Wild Blueberry Festival Held every August in Machias, this is the main event for blueberry lovers. Expect:

Blueberry pie eating contests
Blueberry pancake breakfasts
Live music and entertainment
Vendors selling everything blueberry
The crowning of the Blueberry Queen

Union Fair The Union Fair in Knox County features blueberry pie competitions and plenty of blueberry-themed foods.

Roadside Attractions

Wild Blueberry Land (Columbia Falls) You can’t miss it—it’s a giant blueberry-shaped building on Route 1. Part bakery, part museum, part gift shop, it’s a quirky celebration of Maine’s favorite fruit. The blueberry pie is excellent.

Pick-Your-Own Farms

Many farms offer “rake your own” experiences, letting visitors try their hand at traditional harvesting:

Beddington Ridge Farm (Beddington): Large barrens with rental rakes available
Crabtree’s Blueberries (Sebago): Scenic farm with pick-your-own options
Steep Hill Farm (Pownal): Offers both picking and pre-picked berries
Blue Hill Berry Co. (Blue Hill): Organic berries in the scenic Blue Hill Peninsula

Call ahead to confirm dates and availability—the season is short and weather-dependent.

How Mainers Eat Wild Blueberries

The Classics

Blueberry Pie The Official State Dessert of Maine. A real Maine blueberry pie is simple—wild blueberries, sugar, a little flour or tapioca to thicken, and a flaky crust. No spices, no additions. Let the berries shine.

Blueberry Pancakes A diner staple across Maine. A real wild blueberry pancake is purple through and through, not just dotted with berries on top. Serve with real Maine maple syrup for the ultimate Maine breakfast.

Fresh by the Handful There’s nothing quite like eating wild blueberries warm from the sun, straight off the bush. If you’re lucky enough to visit during harvest, this is the purest way to experience them.

Traditional Maine Treats

Blueberry Grunt A traditional New England dessert: blueberries stewed with dumplings dropped on top, steamed until fluffy. Named for the sound the berries make as they cook.

Blueberry Buckle A coffee cake-style dessert with berries throughout and a crumbly streusel top.

Blueberry Muffins From roadside diners to high-end bakeries, Maine blueberry muffins are a breakfast staple.

Needhams A traditional Maine candy made with potato and coconut, often flavored with blueberry for a regional twist.

Modern Uses

Smoothies and Acai Bowls: Wild blueberries are a superfood favorite
Craft Cocktails: Maine bartenders use them in seasonal drinks
Ice Cream: Local creameries make wild blueberry flavors
Jam and Preserves: A way to enjoy the taste year-round

Buying Wild Blueberries

Fresh (In Season)

During August, fresh wild blueberries appear at farm stands, farmers markets, and even some grocery stores throughout Maine. They’re highly perishable—buy them and use them within a few days.

Frozen (Year-Round)

Most of Maine’s wild blueberry crop is flash-frozen immediately after harvest, locking in flavor and nutrients. Look for them in the freezer section of grocery stores nationwide. Major brands include:

Wyman’s of Maine
Jasper Wyman & Son

Frozen wild blueberries actually work better than fresh for baking—they don’t burst and bleed as much during cooking.

Products

Maine’s wild blueberries appear in countless products:

Jams and preserves
Syrups
Dried blueberries
Blueberry honey
Blueberry wine and beer
Blueberry soda

The Industry

Economic Impact

Wild blueberries are big business in Maine:

The industry contributes over $250 million annually to Maine’s economy
Thousands of workers are employed during harvest season
Processing facilities operate year-round, freezing and packaging berries
The industry supports related businesses from equipment manufacturers to trucking

Challenges

The wild blueberry industry faces ongoing challenges:

Competition from cultivated blueberries grown in warmer climates
Labor shortages during harvest
Climate change affecting growing conditions
Price volatility in global markets

Despite these challenges, wild blueberries remain central to Downeast Maine’s identity and economy.

Tips for Visitors

Best Time to Visit

Late July through August is harvest season—the best time to see the barrens in action, attend festivals, and buy fresh berries.

Late June offers the beauty of the barrens in bloom, with delicate white and pink flowers covering the fields.

What to Do

Drive Route 1 through Cherryfield and Columbia Falls during harvest
Stop at Wild Blueberry Land for pie and photos
Attend the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival
Try raking at a pick-your-own farm
Buy frozen berries to bring home

Local Etiquette

Don’t pick berries on private land without permission
If you see workers in the fields, don’t disturb them—they’re working
Support local businesses that sell wild blueberries

The Verdict

Once you taste a wild Maine blueberry, the big cultivated ones just won’t cut it anymore. There’s a reason this tiny fruit has sustained an entire regional economy and culture for generations. Whether you eat them fresh off the bush, baked into a pie, or frozen in your morning smoothie, wild blueberries are one of Maine’s greatest treasures—proof that the best things really do come in small packages.