Blueberries not only taste great, but they're also a good source of vitamin C, iron, and fiber. They're cholesterol-free, sodium-free, and an important source of potassium. Best of all, blueberries contain only 80 calories per cup.
Research concludes that the antioxidants in blueberries help protect the body against chronic diseases associated with aging. The folic acid may help guard against cervical cancer and may benefit the fetus during pregnancy. Blueberries, like cranberries, also help prevent urinary tract infections.
Rabbiteye blueberries are native to Georgia and make up most of our commercial production. Blueberries are harvested in Georgia from late May through mid-July. In Georgia blueberries are grown commercially primarily in the southern part of the state. And some are grown in the north Georgia mountains.
Under good management, blueberry bushes will produce some fruit the second or third year after transplanting. By the sixth year, they will yield as much as two gallons each. The yield will continue to increase for several years as the plants get larger.
Our Programs and Services
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Lab Testing and Analysis Services Testing for soil, plant tissue, water quality, animal waste, feeds and forages, pesticides, and much more!
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On-Site and Telephone Consultation Available in many county offices for ag producers.
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Pesticide Safety Education Program Topics include pest identification, storage and disposal, pesticide drift and runoff prevention, water quality protection, and food safety.
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Production Meetings Updates on local issues for growers and producers.
Recent Publications
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Visual Guide to Common Bees of Blueberry Fields in Southeast Georgia (C 1295) This visual guide helps people identify common wild bees encountered in blueberry systems. The contribution of wild bees to blueberry pollination has is becoming widely recognized. Proper identificati…
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2024 Southeast Regional Blueberry Integrated Management Guide (AP 123-4) The 2024 edition of this publication covers integrated pest management information for blueberry producers in the Southeastern U.S. Recommendations are based on information from the manufacturer’s lab…
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Home & Garden Georgia Pest Management Handbook Series: Home Orchard (SB 48-05) This section of the Home & Garden Edition covers pest control in home orchards, including apples, peaches, bunch grapes, muscadines, strawberries, blueberries, and other fruits. Beginning in 2022, the…
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Blueberry Production (C 1278) This publication covers a brief history of the development of blueberries, plus general production requirements such as varieties, chill hours, soil considerations, etc. The southern highbush blueberr…
Websites
UGA-affiliated sites
UGA Blueberry Blog Scientific information about blueberry production from the UGA Blueberry Team.
UGA Small Fruit Program Strives to increase the efficiency of production systems by improving small fruit production management practices in Georgia.
Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium Newsletters and growing guides related to the production and marketing of blueberries.
Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics IPBGG faculty actively engage in the training of graduate students, the development of new crop varieties, and basic research on the genetics and understanding of crop traits important to agriculture and humankind.
Sustainable Agriculture at UGA Brings together information on sustainable agriculture including organic agriculture, pollinators, and other resources.
UGA Department of Horticulture Learn more about the horticulture department at the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
UGA Department of Plant Pathology Learn more about the plant pathology department at the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Commodity Teams at CAES Teams made up of research scientists and extension specialists work together to provide the latest technology and information for efficient, profitable production of some of Georgia's most valuable commodities.
External sites
Georgia Blueberry Commission Supports research, education, and promotion programs on behalf of the state's growers.
North American Blueberry Council Industry members provide industry news and supplier contacts and administer product seal programs.
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40 Under 40 Two faculty members in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and UGA Cooperative Extension were named to the Fruit and Vegetable 40 under 40 Class of 2023.
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Blueberry Breeding Georgia is well-known as the Peach State, but since 1949 plant breeders at the University of Georgia have been on a blue streak, bringing more than 50 blueberry varieties to market.
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Blueberry Quality Study seeks to identify possible causes for postharvest quality loss in rabbiteye blueberries.
| Top Blueberry Producers | |
|---|---|
| County Name | Value |
| Bacon | $127,819,500 |
| Appling | 69,820,000 |
| Ware | 32,830,000 |
| Coffee | 31,908,100 |
| Clinch | 29,977,880 |
| Pierce | 27,493,750 |
| Atkinson | 17,096,760 |
| Brantley | 13,366,040 |
| Baker | 11,766,600 |
| Lanier | 11,180,916 |
| State Total: | $449,363,632 |
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Displaying farm gate values for 2022. Values are tallied in October for the previous year. |
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