Wild blueberry farms across Maine suffer as climate change upends growing seasons
Get the Energy newsletter
Daily energy & climate — solar, EVs, oil, the policy fights and tech bets shaping the transition. Free.
- Seth Kroeck reported his 2025 harvest at Crystal Spring Farm was only 7% of the expected yield after severe drought caused premature leaf color change and shriveled berries.
- Crystal Spring Farm has experienced near‑total crop loss three times in the past seven years, according to Kroeck.
- Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine noted the state harvested 88 million pounds of wild blueberries in 2023, generating $361 million in revenue and supplying almost all U.S. wild berries.
- Rachel Schattman emphasized that wild blueberries thrive on low‑nutrient, sandy soils that are unsuitable for most other crops.
Why it matters: Farmers like Seth Kroeck lose revenue as yields plunge 93%, while the state’s $361 million blueberry industry risks higher costs for climate‑resilient practices, threatening local economies and supply chains.
Ask SkimNews
