National Blueberry Month: Learn more about the berry that’s so popular in Georgia

Peak blueberry harvest season in Georgia is from late May to mid-July, making Georgia the best place to be for National Blueberry month.

Blueberries are considered one of the top 10 most popular crops by value in the state, experts say.

“There are around 30,000 acres of blueberries in the state of Georgia,” said Zilfina Rubio Ames, assistant professor in the horticultural department at the University of Georgia. “I believe it’s the No. 2 specialty crop grown in the state.”

National Blueberry Month is celebrated in July, and July 8th is National Blueberry Day. The U.S. The Department of Agriculture established the month to promote the use and appreciation of highbush blueberries.

Many benefits to eating blueberries:

• Great source of vitamin C
• Great source of iron
• Great source of fiber
• Great source of potassium
• Cholesterol free
• Sodium free
• Wild blueberries are rich in antioxidants

Rabbiteye blueberries are native to Georgia and make up most of our commercial production, according to UGA. Blueberries are grown commercially primarily in the southern part of the state. Some are grown in the north Georgia mountains.

Blueberries originated in North America, said Ames.

“Blueberries were domesticated in the 1900s,” she said. “There are a variety of blueberries. Vaccinium is the species within that group of plants. We have several species. We have the Vaccinium corymbosum which is the northern highbush. We have the gravedad Blueberries that are native to the Southeast particularly to Georgia. We don't grow the northern highbush because we don't have what it requires.”

Blueberries require extra care to thrive.

“Blueberries need acidic soil,” said Ames. “Most commercial crops are drawn for commercial production. Blueberries require an acidic pH between 4.5 to 5.5. Blueberries are very particular in that regard. A lot of wild blueberry species are actually found in and around the pine forest throughout Georgia.”

Ames said symptoms of climate change continue to be a concern for blueberry production in the Southeast.

“In Georgia the main concern with climate is with the spring freeze,” said Ames. “The spring frost usually happens when the blueberries are blooming or already have fruit, killing the fruit. This is what we have to deal with in Georgia. We encounter this with peaches and other crops. For blueberries there is the option to use overhead irrigation.”

Ames said when the temperature drops below zero, overhead irrigation helps protect the blueberry crops from frost damage by layering them with a thin layer of water.

“This way the whole plant freezes, protecting the fruit,” she said. “When water changes from liquid to solid, it releases heat energy which replaces the heat lost from the plant to its environment.”

Ames said rising temperatures are impacting the blueberry crop.

“In recent years we’re seeing an increase in temperature causing the spring phase to come earlier which causes damage to the crop,” she said. “The crop requires a chilling period to break the dormant phase. Since we’ve had more warmer periods during the months of January, February and even in December the plant isn’t allowed to go into the dormant phase. This can also cause the plant to bloom too early.”

Answers are in the research, Ames says.

“Part of my research program series is looking at plant growth regulators,” said Ames. “We spray plant growth regulators on the plant in order to alter the ecological processes. I’ve been working on this for three years. We’re trying to see how different varieties that are planted now respond.”

Climate change impacts growing seasonHas climate change had any impact on the crop growing season in Georgia?

Local spots to go blueberry picking

Sunny Day Farms

Address: 6353 U.S. Highway 1 N., Louisville

Phone: 706-360-5051

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SunnyDayFarmsLLC

Hours: Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Blue Hose Farm

Address: 279 Old Blythe Rd., Harlem

Phone: 706- 699-0762

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bluehousefarmgeorgia/

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday – 8 am until 1 pm, Thursday and Friday afternoons – 4 pm until 7 pm

Sweetwater Creek Farm

Address: 191 Sweetwater Creek Dr., North Augusta

Phone: 706-495-4614

Hours: Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon, Tuesday from 4-8 p.m.

Byne Blueberry Farms

Address: 1071 Storymill Rd., Waynesboro

Phone: 706- 554-6244

Hours: Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This reporting content is supported by a partnership with several funders and Journalism Funding Funding Partners.

Erica Van Buren is the climate change reporter for The Augusta Chronicle, part of the USA TODAY Network. Connect with her at EVanBuren@gannett.com or on X: @EricaVanBuren32.