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Highbush blueberries reach for new markets

July 7, 2009  By Marg Land


blueberries02July 7, 2009, Charlottetown, PEI – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
research has shown that highbush blueberry varieties can be grown
successfully on P.E.I.

July 7, 2009, Charlottetown, PEI – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research has shown that highbush blueberry varieties can be grown successfully on P.E.I.

blueberries02  
   

The results point to new crop opportunities for P.E.I. berry growers.
 
Highbush berries, in limited acreage, are already being grown on P.E.I., and the provincial Department of Agriculture is working with growers who are interested in expanding highbush acreage. A larger acreage is expected to be in production this season.
 
Highbush blueberries are harvested earlier than lowbush berries, extending the marketing season for growers. The highbush berries have other advantages as well, including they are larger, less perishable than lowbush and are ideal for you-pick operations where the public can move around the three to four feet high bushes for easier picking.
 
The highbush varieties tested on P.E.I. survived winter conditions well, are adapted to local growing conditions and provided good-sized berries with the potential for commercial yields.
 
The four plant varieties in the trial, provided by the P.E.I. Department of Agriculture, were Northland, Bluecrop, Patriot and Duke. After five harvest seasons, Northland was the highest yielding cultivar.

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