Apr 14, 2016

USDA to buy Maine wild blueberries

USDA has agreed to purchase 30 million pounds of wild blueberries from Maine blueberry growers, The Associated Press reports.

The Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine submitted a request for the purchase to USDA in January. The Maine congressional delegation wrote a letter to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Fruit and Vegetable Program supporting the commission’s request.

Here’s more from The Associated Press:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will buy up to 30 million pounds of wild blueberries to help stabilize prices and supply in one of Maine’s signatures industries

The members of Maine’s congressional delegation told The Associated Press on Thursday that the agency will pay up to $13 million for the wild blueberries.

The bailout could help spell the end of low prices to consumers on wild blueberries, which are harvested commercially in Maine and Canada.