Often asked: Maine Blueberry Raking How Much Pay?

How much do blueberry pickers get paid?

They get a little paper slip that they can turn in once a week for cash. “So far this year, our average, for everybody, has been $16 an hour,” Barnhill says. “I’ve seen them make as high as $30 to $35 an hour picking blueberries.” Some farm workers consider harvesting blueberries their favorite job.

How much does Maine make off of blueberries?

Maine produces 10 percent of all blueberries in North America, including wild and cultivated production.

How many pounds of blueberries can you pick in an hour?

On an average day, a focused picker should have no problem filling their picking tray with 10 lbs of berries in an hour or two.

Who picks blueberries in Maine?

Pick -Your-Own Blueberries

• Blue Sky Farm | Brooksville.
• Spiller Farm | Wells.
• Perseverance Wild Blueberry Farm | Kingsbury Plantation.
• Libby & Son U- Picks | Limerick.
• Winslow Farm | Falmouth.
• Rupert Berry Farm | Turner.
• Alexander’s Wild Maine Blueberries | Greenfield.

Is there money in blueberry farming?

How much can an acre of blueberries make a year? Once your blueberry bushes reach maturity they could produce from 5,000 to 20,000 pounds a year. If they all sold for $4.00 a pound this means that you could make anywhere from $20,000 to $80,000 an acre a year once they reach maturity.

How hard is blueberry picking?

Fruit Picking can be quite hard, repetitious and physically demanding work. Each crop will differ, some are much harder than others, so it… With new legislation forcing job seekers on the Dole to apply for 40 positions per month we could see… We were just scammed by someone pretending to be named “Jacob McCabe”.

Why do blueberries grow so well in Maine?

Blueberries like acidic soil, which is fortunate for us, because that’s what Maine has. They like it best when the soil is about as acidic as tomato juice.

What is a good price for blueberries?

The average market price for fresh and processed wild blueberries was $0.60 per pound (NASS, 2015).

Why are American blueberries so big?

Most of the blueberries you find in stores have been gentically modified (like most fresh produce in stores). This genetic modification causes the berries to be bigger and juicer than wild blueberries, which have not been genetically modified. Selective breeding is not the same thing as genetic modification.

What does 1 pound of blueberries look like?

One pound of blueberries is about four heaping palmfuls of berries. Whether you can handle the berries or simply need to picture it, it’s about the same amount of marbles you’d be able to hold in an open palm four times over.

What is the best time to pick blueberries?

Blueberries are typically ready for picking between June and August. Don’t rush to pick the berries as soon as they turn blue. Wait a couple days. When they are ready, they should fall off right into your hand.

How many years do blueberry plants produce?

Blueberries will live and produce for 40 to 50 years. Attending to their ideal location and conditions at planting will guarantee you delicious fruit for many years.

Why are Maine blueberries so small?

Wild blueberries are Maine’s state fruit. Parks says that many cultivated blueberries are pumped with water, while wild berries aren’t. This makes them smaller, sweeter and firmer.

How long is blueberry season in Maine?

Most of Maine’s wild- blueberry harvesting is done by large, commercial operations such as Wyman’s of Maine. But there are a few farms that’ll let you swing a rake and pick your own. The season generally runs from late July into August and early September.

How are Maine blueberries different?

Here’s why they’re different For generations, Maine families have nurtured these wild berries that boast an intense blueberry taste; ranging from tangy tartness to succulent sweetness. Wild blueberries are frozen fresh and loaded with 33% more brain-healthy anthocyanins than ordinary blueberries.