North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Richard J.Ossolinski <ossoeo@verizon.net>]

Hello, all,

Blueberries, at least the lowbush type with which I'm familiar, lend themselves to mechanical harvesting once their habitat has been cleared of rocks and boulders - a huge undertaking/expense but one which growers in this area (which shares with<x-tad-bigger> Hammonton, N.J. the status of "Blueberry Capital of the World") have chosen to incur, as it minimizes reliance on (increasingly unpredictable) manpower at harvest time, which correlates to a more controlled, predictable harvest, hence a positive effect on the bottom line.  I can't imagine even firm blackberries withstanding the rigors of mechanical harvesting/processing that blueberries routinely endure with little consequence.  Then again, I don't know diddly-squat about blackberries, except that our local ones need to be handled with TLC.

Richard
Gouldsboro, ME Zone 5, and just a few days shy of the first ripe Puget Golds
</x-tad-bigger>
On Aug 6, 2008, at 10:44 AM, Mark & Helen Angermayer wrote:

> This is puzzling.  Fruit Grower News indicated blueberry production is expected to expand, in the near future, more than any other fruit.  As indicated by the article Sam posted, they are even growing them in Utah.  I can understand their popularity, they are tasty.  What I don't understand is why growers aren't putting in more blackberries.  Around here, blackberries sell for quite a bit more than blueberries.  At the grocers, they sell California blackberries in a little 6 oz. container for $2.50, equating to $7.50 per #.  The blackberries didn't even look that good.  Blueberries sell for $2.00 per # at the same store.
>  
> I know a blackberry grower who goes to a farmer's market and sells out in the first hour, charging $3.75 per #.  He is thinking about buying blackberries from out of state in order to sell more. 
>  
> We've been giving them away.  One lady, whom we gave some to, called back and wanted to buy some.  She said the place that she normally buys them was sold out.  We ended up selling blackberries without even trying.
>  
> Why isn't there more blackberry hype?
>  
> Mark
> KS_______________________________________________
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