New Jersey is native to many wonderful things, and did you know that Hammonton New Jersey is known as the blueberry capital of the world? In fact, New Jersey is ranked fifth in the top U.S. blueberry production by state, and folks can’t get enough of these sweet and tart superfoods. Blueberries are a commonly consumed fruit by most people along with apples, loved for their flavor and wide appeal.
There are two species of blueberry, highbush and lowbush, both flowering deciduous shrubs bloom in May and bear fruit from July through August here in Northwestern New Jersey. Highbush blueberries typically grow to 6-12 ft. high while low-bush blueberries are considered wild blueberries and yield smaller-sized plants and berries. Both varieties prefer sandy, acidic soil and grow in full sun. We grow approximately 7 acres of high-bush blueberries on our 400-acre farm and open our fields for guests to come and pick their own luscious berries when in season. Blueberries would have only been available in the wild if not for an innovative woman farmer. The first commercially cultivated batch of domesticated blueberries was attributed to New Jersey native, Elizabeth Coleman White, in the twentieth century. Elizabeth worked to domesticate blueberries which would turn this crop into a worldwide industry. She planted blueberries on her father’s cranberry farm as a complimentary planting as blueberries ripened in July and would not interfere with the September cranberry harvest.
Elizabeth became the first woman member of the American Cranberry Association and was the first woman to receive a citation from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture for her contributions. She also was noted as an organizer of the New Jersey Blueberry Cooperative Association which is an co-op formed to recognize and ensure the quality and consistency of blueberries with recognition to preservation of the environment. Elizabeth was also very instrumental in designing proper packaging utilizing cellophane allowing blueberries to be widely distributed and more accessible to all. Learn more about Elizabeth on our blog by clicking here.
March marks Women’s History month, and we will be paying tribute throughout the month, to the generations of women who changed our world with their advocacy, strength, and ingenuity. An innovative farmer and native New Jerseyan, Elizabeth Coleman White, was a significant woman in history and we appreciative her work and dedication to the farming industry. The next time you bite into a delicious blueberry in the Summer you have Elizabeth to thank!
