ABSTRACT
The lowbush blueberry is native to eastern Canada and the northeastern United States: from Labrador and Newfoundland, west to southern Manitoba and Minnesota, south to northern Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, and in the mountains to Virginia and West Virginia. It occurs in dry sandy areas, peaty barrens, rocky outcroppings, and woods, always in quite acidic soils. The lowbush blueberry is mostly managed in wild stands, rather than being planted as a horticultural crop like the highbush blueberry. Blueberries ship well and are a favorite fresh dessert eaten alone, topped with cream or liqueurs, mixed in fruits salads and cereals, and used as a topping for waffles and crepes. Blueberries are a seasonal crop with a relatively short shelf life, but international trade has extended the season, the imported fruit often selling at premium prices. Wild blueberries remain exceptionally tasty, and their widespread collection and sale represent the most profitable wildcrafted food crop in North America.
