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Warm summer kicking up blueberry harvest

A southwest Michigan blueberry grower says Mother Nature has been kind at the start of this harvest season.

Katelyn Craig with DeGrandchamp Farms says fruit has been ripening a bit faster with the warm weather at the start of July.

“Yield looks good, the timing of everything is really nice,” she shares. “Some varieties are ripening a little faster than we’re used to this year, but we’re going to get through it just fine. Quality has been great so far this year too, so that’s a big plus.”

The third-generation farmer says their U-Pick and farm market has seen strong demand in the first few weeks open.

“It’s amazing being out in the store and seeing how many people buying hundreds of pounds of blueberries at a time to take it home and freeze for the winter and stuff,” she says.

Craig says harvest should go until September.

A new report from the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Industry estimates Michigan growers generate more than $529 million annually in economic activity from nearly 20,000 acres.