Wild blueberry harvest suffered in this year’s drought

MAINE MONITOR • October 2, 2022

It was the third straight season of drought for the state’s midcoast and Down East coastal region — wild blueberry country. Farm owner Lisa Hanscom said, “The yield last year was low, the year before even worse. I just hope to break even, to stay in the game.” For Hanscom’s family and other lowbush wild blueberry growers in Maine’s coastal counties — the counties hardest hit by the nearly statewide summer drought — staying in the game is a constant gamble. Dell Emerson of Wescogus Wild Blueberries in Addison said, “The climate extremes are raising hell, especially for smaller growers, but they aren’t sure where to go for help.”