1972 BLUEBERRY SURVEY 



Dominic A. Marini, Reg. Fruit & Vegetable Spec. 

 Southeast Extension Region 



A mail survey of Massachusetts cultivated blueberry growers 

 was taken in Fall, 1972, to determine more clearly the nature of 

 this industry. Objectives of the survey included determination of 

 the varieties being grown, the market outlets being utilized, and 

 the methods being used to reduce bird damage. Two hundred growers 

 were sent questionnaires and 32% of these growers responded. 



Size of plantings : Of the respondents, 32% have less than 100 

 bushes; 37% have 100-1000 bushes; 24% have 1000-5000 bushes; and 

 7% have 5000 or more bushes. Since, at the usual planting dis- 

 tance of 5 X 8 feet there are 1,089 bushes per acre, it is obvious 

 that most plantings are small. It thus appears that in Massachu- 

 setts blueberries are grown primarily as a supplementary farm en- 

 terprise or else to supplement income of persons not purposefully 



engaged in farming. 



Varieties being grown : 

 varieties reported, and 



The following table lists the different 

 the percentage of growers reporting each 



Jersey. . 

 Berkel ey 

 C V i 1 1 e . 

 81 ueray . 

 E a r 1 i b 1 u e 

 31 uecrop 

 Collins. 

 Herbert. 

 Rubel . . . 



40 

 36 

 33 

 32 

 27 

 24 

 20 

 19 

 19 



Dixi 12 



Rancocas 11 



Burlington... 8 



Pemberton .... 8 



Pi oneer 5 



Bluetta 4 



Darrow 4 



Stanley 4 



Atlantic 3 



Latebl ue 3 



Adams 1 



Cabot 1 



Concord 1 



Early Blaze. 1 



Early Dawn . . 1 



GN 87 1 



Ivanhoe 1 



June 1 



Wareham 1 



Weymouth .... 1 



It is apparent that while the varieties that are currently 

 recommended for Massachusetts (Special Circular No. 212-E) are the 

 ones most widely grown, plantings vary greatly in their variety 

 assortments 



Bi rd damage : Netting is the most commonly used method of control- 

 ling bird damage, with 69% reporting that they use it and 64% say- 

 ing that it is effective. In commenting on the use of netting, 2 

 growers mentioned having trouble with raccoons tearing the net. 



