Maine’s lowbush blueberries deserve high praise | Letter

Local Writer Highlights Wild Blueberry Importance After Guide Misled Readers

A letter sent to the Portland Press Herald is drawing attention to an error in a recent summer‑reading guide that listed blueberry‑picking spots west of Portland. The piece, titled “5 places to pick blueberries west of Portland this summer,” described several farms that offer visitors the chance to harvest berries. However, the author of the letter, Lucy Webb Hardy of Wells, points out that the article conflated cultivated highbush blueberries with Maine’s iconic low‑bush, or wild, blueberries— a distinction that matters both culturally and economically.

Mixed‑berry message draws correction

Hardy’s critique centers on the guide’s opening line: “Mainers are proud of their state’s blueberries. That pride runs even deeper when they’ve picked them themselves.” While the sentiment reflects a genuine state pride, Hardy notes, the pride Mainers feel is tied specifically to wild blueberries, not the highbush varieties featured in the article. According to state data cited in the letter, Maine’s wild blueberry crop generates roughly $360 million in annual revenue, cementing the fruit’s role as a cornerstone of the local economy. The letter stresses that Maine leads the world in wild blueberry production, a fact that is often overshadowed when promotional pieces focus on cultivated berries.

A family legacy in the fields

Hardy adds personal context, explaining that she worked as a wild blueberry raker during her youth and that her son continues the tradition 31 years later. Her experience gives her a firsthand view of the labor and seasonality that define the wild harvest. In addition to her fieldwork, Hardy has spent years teaching the history and economic significance of wild blueberries to students in Southern Maine’s public schools. She says most of her pupils are surprised to learn how the low‑bush berry differs from the highbush varieties commonly sold in supermarkets and how central it is to Maine’s identity and revenue.

Why the distinction matters

The letter argues that visitors to Maine should be informed about the wild blueberry if they want to experience the fruit that truly defines the state. While highbush berries are enjoyable, Hardy writes, they are not “the berry that we claim to fame.” She urges readers of the guide to seek out the low‑bush varieties if they wish to taste the authentic Maine berry and understand the industry that supports thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in sales each year.

Response and next steps

Hardy’s letter was submitted as a response to the original article and includes a copy of the source link. It has been tagged as a featured letter‑to‑the‑editor on the newspaper’s website, sparking conversation among readers about the importance of accurate agricultural reporting. The discussion highlights a growing awareness among Mainers that the state’s branding is inextricably linked to its wild blueberry heritage, and that clear communication about which berries are being showcased is essential for both tourism and economic education.