U-Pick Blueberry Season by State: Complete Timeline
A state-by-state timeline of when u-pick blueberry farms open across the US — from Georgia's May harvest to Maine's August wild blueberries.
Blueberry season in the United States runs from May through September, sweeping northward as warmer temperatures arrive. Understanding when your state or region peaks helps you plan a visit at exactly the right moment — before the best berries are gone.
The Rolling Blueberry Harvest
Unlike strawberries, which have a fairly narrow nationwide window, blueberries are grown in so many regions and climates that the national season is genuinely extended. Farms in Georgia open in May while farms in Maine don't hit their stride until August. This rolling season means that a dedicated blueberry enthusiast could follow the harvest northward all summer.
May: The South Leads
Georgia
Georgia's Tifton and Valdosta areas, along with Bacon County's famous blueberry farms around Alma, open as early as mid-May. This is the rabbiteye blueberry belt — large, tangy varieties that do well in the South's warmer climate. The annual Blueberry Festival in Alma typically happens in late May or early June and celebrates the start of harvest.
North Carolina (Southern Lowlands)
Some North Carolina farms in the piedmont and coastal plain open for picking in late May, depending on the weather in a given year.
Mississippi and Alabama
Farms in the southern counties of both states can open in May and early June, with the season moving north through the summer.
June: Mid-Atlantic and Upper South
Virginia
Virginia blueberry farms, particularly in the Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley areas, typically open in mid to late June. The season runs through mid-July in most years.
Maryland and Delaware
Farms in these states generally open in late June and run through late July. The Eastern Shore of Maryland has particularly good blueberry production.
New Jersey
New Jersey has one of the country's finest blueberry farming traditions. Burlington County (particularly the Hammonton area, which calls itself the Blueberry Capital of the World) and Atlantic County farms open in late June. The season runs through late July and is marked by the Hammonton Blueberry Festival.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania blueberry farms open in late June and run through July and sometimes into August.
North Carolina (Mountains)
Higher elevation farms in western North Carolina can run their season into July due to the cooler mountain temperatures.
July: The Peak Month Nationally
Michigan
Michigan is the top blueberry-producing state in the nation, and July is its prime month. Southwest Michigan farms — in Van Buren, Allegan, Ottawa, and Muskegon counties — open in late June and hit peak in July, with the season extending through September as different varieties ripen sequentially.
Varieties commonly available at Michigan u-pick farms include Duke, Bluecrop, Blueray, Jersey, and Elliot — each ripening at slightly different times, creating an extended picking window.
Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois
Farms in these states typically open in early to mid-July and run through August.
Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island
Southern New England farms open in mid to late June in warmer years; most consistently by early July. The season runs through late July or early August.
New York (Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes)
New York farms open in July with the season running through August. The Hudson Valley has several excellent u-pick operations within easy reach of New York City.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin's Door County and western Wisconsin farms open in July and run through August. The state's cooler climate produces berries with particularly good flavor.
Oregon (Willamette Valley)
Oregon's peak blueberry season runs from mid-July through late August in the Willamette Valley. Oregon grows both highbush and other varieties, with farms offering a range of picking experiences.
Washington (Whatcom County)
Whatcom County, in the northwest corner of Washington near Bellingham, is one of the highest-density blueberry regions in the world. Season typically runs from mid-July through September, with multiple varieties ripening sequentially.
August: The Northeast and Far North
Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York (North)
Northern New England and the Adirondack region peak in August. Vermont and New Hampshire have scattered small-scale operations; seek them out through local farmers markets and farm directories.
Maine
Maine's wild lowbush blueberries are uniquely different from the cultivated highbush varieties found everywhere else. Wild blueberries are tiny, intensely flavored, and lower in water content — more concentrated flavor per berry. They are harvested in August across the blueberry barrens of Washington County (the Downeast region).
A handful of farms in Maine's wild blueberry country allow visitors to rake their own berries in August — one of the most distinctive agricultural experiences in the Northeast.
Minnesota and Upper Midwest
Minnesota and Wisconsin u-pick farms hit their full stride in August. The cooler northern climate creates excellent flavor in highbush varieties.
September: The Pacific Northwest Extends the Season
Washington (Whatcom County, Late Varieties)
Washington's longer growing season allows late-ripening varieties like Elliot to extend picking into September. This is one of the longest blueberry u-pick seasons in the nation, running from mid-July through September.
Oregon (Late Varieties)
Oregon's late-season varieties can extend picking through September in warmer years.
Key Factors That Shift Timing
Every year is different. Factors that affect blueberry season timing:
Warm springs: Can advance harvest by one to three weeks compared to normal Cold, wet springs: Delay bloom and fruit set, pushing harvest back Summer heat waves: Can accelerate ripening but stress fruit quality Rainfall during harvest: Can cause fruit to split and reduce picking quality
Always check farm websites and social media for current season status rather than relying solely on historical averages.
Varieties and Their Relative Timing
| Variety | Type | Relative Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Duke | Highbush | Early (first of the season) |
| Bluecrop | Highbush | Mid-season |
| Chandler | Highbush | Mid-season, large berries |
| Jersey | Highbush | Mid to late |
| Elliot | Highbush | Late season (extends picking) |
| Tifblue | Rabbiteye | Early to mid (South) |
| Brightwell | Rabbiteye | Mid-season (South) |