Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 7212 S G M A G A Z I N E | FA L L 2 0 1 6 B U S I N E S S + C U LT U R E 13 Blueberry Sensation The farm-to-table journey for blueberries began in the early 20th century when Elizabeth White, daughter of a New Jersey farmer, teamed up with Frederick Coville, a botanist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to identify wild plants to crossbreed and create new varieties of blueberries that could be grown domestically. White and Coville planted their first blueberry bushes in 1912, and in 1916 the first commercial blueberry crops were harvested and sold commercially in Whitesbog, New Jersey. This year the U.S. celebrates the 100th anniversary of commercial blueberry production. In Georgia, it was nine years later before blueberries first entered the farm scene. According to the Georgia Blueberry Growers Association (GBGA), in 1925 the best selections of Rabbiteye blueberry bushes were transplanted from West Florida to the University of Georgia (UGA) Tifton campus. In the early 1940s, Cason J. Callaway, a Georgia legislator, secured funding to establish research for blueberry breeding in South Georgia. The blueberry industry developed slowly throughout the 1950s and 1960s, with an estimated 100 acres of blueberries planted throughout the state. A decade later, with assistance from federal funds, a mechanical harvesting machine was purchased for use in Bacon County (Alma, Georgia) and the GBGA was established, at which time there were only 1,500 documented acres of blueberry plants in South Georgia. Today, Georgia ranks as one of the highest producing blueberry states in the U.S., and blueberries are currently the top fruit crop produced in Georgia. South Georgia Benefiting Economically from Super Fruit PHOTO: GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE According to the 2014 Georgia Farm Gate Value Report, there are 28,643 acres of blueberries planted throughout Georgia, with the top three producing counties located in South Georgia—Bacon (8,440 acres), Clinch (6,410 acres), and Appling (4,500 acres)—coming in with a combined $254 million in farm gate value as compared to the state’s overall $335.2 million. “A lot of blueberries are grown in Southeast Georgia because blueberries do best in acidic soil, which has a low pH level,” said Renée Allen, UGA area blueberry agent. “Blueberries also like to grow where there is good drainage, like sandy soils, and in soil that has higher organic matter.” Allen explains that in Georgia there are two main types of blueberry plants, the Southern Highbush, which is harvested in April and May, and Rabbiteye, which is harvested in May and June. The Rabbiteye is a native species to Georgia and is typically harvested by machine, while the Southern Highbush is primarily hand-picked for most of the season. Allen, who earned a Master of Science in plant pathology from UGA while conducting research on blueberry diseases for 2.5 years, has now been working with South Georgia blueberry farmers for an additional three years. “I help the farmer troubleshoot in the field by diagnosing the issue in question and making management recommendations,” she said. Allen manages a blueberry research and demonstration farm in Alma, Georgia, and collaborates and coordinates with blueberry specialists, county agricultural agents, and growers to conduct research trials, host field days, and promote blueberry education through the region. Blueberries Linked to Super Health Benefits The popularity of blueberries is growing within the U.S. and internationally. For farmers in Georgia, it comes as no surprise that the now commonly known “super fruit” is gaining well-deserved attention, not just for its sweet taste but also for its nutritional value. According to the USDA Agricultural Research Service, blueberries are highly beneficial in maintaining memory function and preventing cognitive degeneration. Recent studies have also found that eating blueberries reduces the risk of heart attack in women by 33 percent (Harvard School of Public Health). Considered to be high in antioxidants, these tasty little Renée Allen, UGA area blueberry agent, works with South Georgia farmers on issues related to blueberry production. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO