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GET A LOAD OF MAINE’S FAVORITE BERRY

Maine’s official berry, the low-bush, wild (wild because they are not planted but occur naturally) blueberry, grows over 44,000 acres in barrens that range over most of the state. The small wild blueberry is known for its flavor, versatility, vitamins, and powerful antioxidants. At 10 percent of North America’s crop, Maine is the largest producer of all blueberries in the world, harvesting some 90 million pounds a year.

If you’re here during blueberry season (early August), you can buy fresh, local berries in most supermarkets. There are also farm stands, farmers’ markets, or that ubiquitous pickup truck parked on the side of the road with a hand-lettered sign and a card table. After the season, fresh berries will be hard to find, but as a consolation, blueberry fields turn a beautiful scarlet in the fall.

PICK ’EM YOURSELF

A few dozen Maine blueberry farms throughout the state, some organic, allow you to pick your own when berries ripen, usually late July into early September, depending on the weather in any given season. Remember blueberries grow low to the ground, so picking involves a lot of bending over.