In North Carolina, blueberries are the highest-ranked fruit crop and overall, the 16th-ranked commodity for the state. In 2008 North Carolina produced 28.5 million pounds of blueberries, an estimated $50 million in value. With roughly 9.2% of the 2009 blueberry production in the United States, North Carolina is the 6th largest producer of blueberries in the nation.
Annual blueberry harvests occur mainly during June and July. Although blueberries are native to North American soil, they were first planted in North Carolina in 1936. Blueberries are sweet in taste and rich in fiber and Vitamin C. The fruit also has the highest antioxidant level of any fruit. The blueberry has been commonly referred to as a “superfruit” because of its many health benefits.
Sources
North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, N.C. Department of Agriculture, Ag’s Cool Blueberries, http://www.ncagr.gov/agscool/commodities/ bbkid.htm, (last accessed November 16, 2010); North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, N.C. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Statistics – Cash Receipts: 2009 North Carolina Top Commodities by Cash Receipts, http://www.ncagr.gov/stats/economic/cashreceipts/topcommodities.htm, (last accessed November 16, 2010); North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, N.C. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Statistics – North Carolina’s Rank in US Agriculture, http://www.ncagr.gov/stats/ncrank.htm, (last accessed November 16, 2010); North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, N.C. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Statistics — Vegetable Summary, http://www.ncagr.gov/ stats/crops/fruitsum.html, (last accessed November 16, 2010); N.C. MarketReady, N.C. State University, North Carolina Blueberries, http://www.ncmarketready.org/66-north-carolina-blueberries, (last accessed November 16, 2010); North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, N.C. Department of Agriculture, Statistics — Fruit & Nut Summary, http://www.ncagr.gov/stats/crops/ fruitsum.html, (last accessed November 16, 2010).