New Jersey blueberry season outlook
New Jersey blueberry season outlook
The New Jersey Blueberry Industry Advisory Council is happy to report, given the significant weather impacts to the entire northeast, that there will still be blues available for the 2026 crop year.
New Jersey grower Denny Doyle, who is the current chair of the council, is optimistic on how the berries were able to persevere through the recent freeze event in late April. Even though there is evident damage, the state should still produce 50-60 percent of what it typically yields.
Blueberries, native to South Jersey and its natural climate, are very resilient to cold weather. Temperatures in late-April dropped well below 32 degrees Fahrenheit during the crops bloom period, negatively impacting the potential yield for the 2026 crop season. It was very difficult to gauge the extent of damage at that given time, but fast-forward to early June, it’s evident that the majority of the crop hung on the plants.
New Jersey blueberry growers are a significant player nationwide in the blueberry industry. With approximately 10,000 acres planted, the state averages around 35 to 40 million pounds of blueberries on any given year.
Aside from existing as an economic powerhouse for the Garden State, New Jersey has historically supplied a large portion of the country with fresh blueberries pre-dating any other growing region in the world. It’s natural acidic soils along with its perfectly spaced fall, winter, spring and summer give blueberry plants just the right environment to thrive in.
The advisory council, created to strengthen New Jersey’s competitive position in the marketplace, spends most of its time and resources on marketing and promotions, extension research and IPM. This allows New Jersey blueberry growers to stay ahead of the curve on market pressures from other growing regions. It’s created a sentiment that keeps buyers eager and readily enthusiastic about stocking the shelves with New Jersey blueberries for the entire duration of their season.
It has also ensured sustainability to growers throughout the difficulties’ of growing any commodity in today’s environment. Being a farmer today is no easy task to say the least. From weather uncertainty, regulatory pressure, rising costs of inputs and labor shortages, growers find themselves looking for ways to stay efficient to keep their farms multi-generational.
In collaboration with Rutgers University, the advisory council aids growers by equipping them with the tools to combat pests, fine-tune horticultural practices, trial new genetics and implement the newest technologies to ensure growers consistently obtain optimal yields of high-quality blueberries.
Consumers should expect New Jersey blueberries to hit the markets around the middle of June and extend to late July, early-August.
Brandon Raso is New Jersey’s 2026 Outstanding Young Farmer, and was named a 2026 National Outstanding Young Farmer
