Most cultivated blueberries are destined for the fresh market, while wild blueberries are bound for processing

Blueberries are native to North America and grown throughout the United States. Varieties can be classified into two categories: cultivated, which tend to be larger, and wild, which are typically smaller. About 90 percent of blueberries grown in the United States are cultivated, with production reaching a record-high 789.5 million pounds in 2024, valued at $1.15 billion. The top three producing States—Washington, Oregon, and Georgia—cumulatively accounted for almost two-thirds of this total. About 55 percent of cultivated blueberries were destined for the fresh market, though this share varied by State. About one-quarter of blueberries grown in Washington were destined for sale on the fresh market compared to about 55 percent in Oregon and 63 percent in Georgia.

In contrast, almost all harvested wild blueberries are destined for the processing market, primarily for freezing. Wild blueberry production reached 90.8 million pounds in 2024 and was valued at $49.3 million. Wild blueberry varieties are native to Maine, leading the Pine Tree State to account for 100 percent of the reported U.S. total of wild blueberries in 2024. This chart is drawn from the USDA, Economic Research Service Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook, July 2025.

09-18-2025

Source: USDA