Maine’s wild blueberry industry, which produces nearly all of the nation’s wild blueberry crop, is investing heavily in mechanical harvesting and sorting technology as growers confront persistent labor shortages that threaten the viability of hand-raking — the traditional harvest method that has defined the industry for generations.
The shift has been gradual but is now accelerating. Industry estimates suggest that approximately 60 percent of Maine’s wild blueberry crop is now harvested mechanically, up from roughly 40 percent a decade ago. The remaining acreage, much of it on smaller family farms with rugged terrain, continues to rely on hand-raking crews.
“We’d prefer to hand-rake — the quality is better and the plants handle it better — but you can’t harvest berries with workers who don’t exist,” said Cherryfield Foods president Duke Chartrand. “The labor just isn’t available the way it used to be.”
The labor shortage reflects broader trends affecting agriculture nationwide, including an aging workforce, immigration policy uncertainty, competition from other industries, and the physically demanding nature of blueberry raking. Wages for hand-rakers have risen significantly, but the pool of available workers continues to shrink.
To bridge the gap, growers and processors are investing in increasingly sophisticated harvesting machines that can operate on the state’s characteristically rocky, uneven blueberry barrens. New models from equipment manufacturers feature improved low-bush capabilities, gentler berry handling, and GPS-guided navigation.
The University of Maine’s Wild Blueberry Research Program is also developing technologies to assist smaller growers, including a lightweight mechanical harvester designed for operations too small to justify full-size equipment.
“Our goal is to give every grower, regardless of size, access to technology that keeps them viable,” said UMaine researcher Dr. Lily Calderwood.
Post-harvest automation is advancing as well. Jasper Wyman & Son, the industry’s largest processor, recently installed a $3 million optical sorting system at its Cherryfield facility that uses cameras and artificial intelligence to grade berries at speeds no human crew could match.
Maine’s wild blueberry industry generates an estimated $250 million in annual economic activity and supports communities across Washington and Hancock counties, where the berries grow on naturally occurring barrens that require minimal inputs compared to conventional agriculture.
“Wild blueberries are a uniquely Maine product, and this industry has to survive,” said Maine Wild Blueberry Commission director Nancy McBrady. “Technology is how we get there.”
