by RYAN MILEJCZAK
Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida
Did you know that nearly none of the fruit you can find at the supermarket is native to North America?
While many popular fruits have some genetic contribution from North American species, such as the strawberry (a cross of Chilean and European species), only two truly native North American fruits are widely grown and consumed: papayas and blueberries.
Blueberries are fruits from plants in the Cyanococcus section of the Vaccinium genus, which also includes cranberries, lingonberries, and huckleberries. Blueberries are exclusively native to North America, and there are 15 different species known.
The fruit is a true berry, with a powdery coating of epicuticular wax, commonly referred to as “bloom.” This protects the fruit against pests and UV rays, and helps protect against moisture loss.
Blueberries are a good source of vitamin K, vitamin C, and manganese, while also being rich in anthocyanins and various phytochemicals that may have health benefits such as antioxidant properties.
The most commonly cultivated species is Vaccinium corymbosum, the northern highbush blueberry. However, due to factors like a high chill requirement, they don’t grow well in the South.
The UF/IFAS blueberry breeding program started working to solve this issue in the 1940s. They crossed northern blueberry plants with native wild Florida blueberry species, leading to the creation of the southern highbush variety. The first of these, “Sharpblue,” Flordablue,” and “Avonblue,” were released in the 1970s, with 35 southern highbush cultivars developed since then.
Lesser amounts of Rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium virgatum) are also grown. While these were formerly among the most popular varieties, today they are primarily found at u-pick operations.
The first blueberry farm in Florida was started in 1979 by Jimmy and Vhonda Miller, who planted 6 acres of southern highbush and 14 acres of rabbiteye in Interlachen.
Today, Florida blueberries are grown across North Central and Central Florida, particularly in Alachua, Marion, Putnam, Sumter, and Lake counties, with cultivation also occurring in Polk, Orange, Pasco, Hernando, and Hillsborough counties.
Florida is in the top 10 blueberry producing states, with 6,400 acres of blueberry cultivation occurring in the state as of 2024. With a yield of 32,600 lbs (3,720 lbs per acres), this represents a total production value of $87,236,000. This is a slight increase from 2023, which saw 6,100 acres cultivated, yielding 22,300 lbs and a production value of $75,021,000.
While Florida isn’t the number one state for blueberries in terms of yield or total production value, it does command some of the highest blueberry prices in the nation, with only California commanding higher prices in certain years. This is partly thanks to Florida’s early season (as is the case with many Florida crops), running from late March through mid May, allowing Florida growers to be the first to market.
The Florida blueberry industry has a significant economic impact for our state. One study from the US Highbush Blueberry Council estimated the total economic impact of the industry to be $414,900,183 per year (over $1 million a day), employing over 3,000 people and generating nearly $150 million in wages, as well as generating nearly $10 million in tax revenue.
Despite occasional setbacks from things such as weather and competition from other growing regions, the Florida blueberry industry remains strong and has seen significant growth in the past several decades, partly in thanks to increasing consumer demand for blueberries.
As the 2026 blueberry harvest season gets underway, don’t miss out on the chance to hit your local u-pick or pick up some Florida fresh blueberries at the supermarket. Your stomach will thank you, and so will your local economy.