Blueberries are very popular fruits these days, because they contain antioxidants and other important nutrients. This makes it a good time to grow and sell them in the United States.

Getting into the blueberry cultivator business is not an overnight task. It can take several months or even years to get the crop off the ground, literally and figuratively. Some blueberries education and training that can help includes:

1. Learning how to choose the right type of blueberries when you look to buy blueberry plants;

2. Discovering how to care for your blueberry bushes so they grow and thrive, giving you a good crop;

3. Determining where to sell your blueberries so you can start making a profit.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Research types of blueberries for sale so you know which plants to buy

Buying blueberry plants is a lot quicker than trying to start them from seed. It's a good way to get your business started with plants you know will produce. However, you need to make sure the blueberries you grow are the right type for your climate and ensure that they will have the flavor you want.

I recommend: Check the How To Garden Guide to read about the four main types of blueberry plants available. It provides a list by bush type and growing zone. If you're not sure which growing zone you live in, visit the USDA map provided by the United States National Arboretum. Read through the price list at Heartland Blueberries before making a final decision on plant type so you can approximate your expenses.

Learn how to properly care for blueberry plants

After you buy blueberry plants, you need to learn how to plant them and take care of them, not only to keep them alive but to ensure a good crop. Do some extensive reading before they arrive so you will be prepared.

I recommend: Go to High Country Gardens' website and read the article on planting shrubs. Since blueberry plants are actually bushes, it will apply to them. Then visit Dorset Blueberry's website. It has sections on feeding, pruning, planting and spraying to keep your blueberries at their best.

Look into where to sell your fresh blueberries once they come in

You're not really in the blueberry business until start selling your blueberries. It's best to start small and build word of mouth before going to a larger scale operation.

I recommend: Read through the farm directory at LocalHarvest's website to see what other small scale fruit growers are doing to market their wares. Then check out Foodmoves to see how produce auctions work. You may want to take advantage of these services to market your blueberries online.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  People are more likely to buy blueberries if they know what they taste like ahead of time. Offer free samples. Since the berries are small, the cost will be minimal.

Blueberries are a delicious snack and an excellent antioxidant to aid in the fight against cancer. A half cup of blueberries provides as many antioxidants as four servings of other vegetables or fruits. The USDA has also found that the high antioxidant and nutritional value stays the same, whether the blueberry is fresh, dried or frozen.

Purchasing blueberry bushes is an excellent way to ensure that your business always has a fresh supply of berries. If growing blueberries yourself isn't possible, the next best alternative is to find blueberry distributors who supply blueberries year round. You can use the fruit on salads or cereal, or cook them into waffles, muffins or pies. The recipe ideas are only limited by the availability of the berries.

When preparing to stock your store with blueberries, consider the following:

1. Decide whether fresh, frozen or dried blueberries suit your business best.

2. Choose between wild or domestic blueberries.

3. Purchase blueberry plants to ensure hearty crops of blueberries every year.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose between fresh or frozen blueberries

Buy blueberries fresh if you will use the fruit within the next two weeks. After that time, the berries will get soft and lose their taste. You can keep blueberries in the freezer for several weeks, which allows your business to have a ready supply of berries year round.

I recommend: Stateline Blueberries sells large, quarter-sized blueberries in bulk, picking the berries as the orders are received. Russell's Blueberry Farm & Nursery offers frozen blueberries in convenient 5-pound bags.

Decide whether to purchase wild or domestic blueberries

Domestic blueberries, commonly found in grocery stores, are plump, dark purple berries; they're available throughout the year. Wild blueberries are smaller and much sweeter than their domestic counterpart. Delicious wild berries are only available for a few weeks, starting in late August.

I recommend: G. M. Allen & Son, Inc. sells wild blueberries that are delicious and sweet. Hurst's Berry Farm provides domestic berries in 6-ounce, 1-pint and 2.5-pound packages.

Locate nurseries that provide blueberry plants

Instead of relying on finding blueberries for sale throughout the year, plant your own crop of blueberry plants. You will have ready access to fresh blueberries when they're in season, and you can freeze the rest of the crop to ensure berries through out the year.

I recommend: TyTy Nursery offers a variety of guaranteed blueberry plants; they'll replace any plants that do not produce a crop of berries. J.R.T. Nurseries Inc. will provide ongoing expert advice on how to successfully grow their blueberry plants.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before purchasing your first blueberries, online contact via email or a call to your blueberry distributor to find out if there is a minimum order required might save you time. Do not purchase an excessive amount of blueberries at one time, unless you can use them all within a few weeks.

Blueberries are flowering plants that are native to North America. These shrubs can grow up to four meters tall and may be deciduous or evergreen, with small bell-shaped flowers. The blueberry plant typically bears fruit in the summer, with the production peaking in July. The fruit can be more than a half-inch in diameter and become a deep indigo when ripe. Blueberries are sold fresh, frozen, dried or pureed, and they are commonly used in cereals, jellies, snack foods and pies.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Vaccinium

Blueberries are in the Vaccinium genus, which contains over 450 species of plants. The species of blueberries that are of commercial interest include Vaccinium corymbosum, Vaccinium ashei and Vaccinium angustifolium.

I recommend: U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council includes an overview of blueberries and the Vaccinium genus, especially in regard to their commercial applications.

Frost pocket

Frost pockets are highly localized areas that tend to form frost while the surrounding areas remain free of frost. Frost pockets are a matter of great concern to blueberry growers.

I recommend: Michigan State University Extension has a variety of tips on growing blueberries, including avoiding frost pockets.

Phytochemicals

Phytochemicals are chemical compounds that are derived from plants and may have properties that are beneficial to human health. Blueberries are one of the best sources for phytochemicals.

I recommend: Natural News provides a discussion of the phytochemicals in blueberries, including their health benefits.

Intercropping

Intercropping is the process of growing more than one type of plant in the same area. Gardeners who are short onspace frequently intercrop blueberries with other plants.

I recommend: Garden Guides provides specific tips for intercropping blueberries, including the best plants with which to to grow them. The biggest challenge to intercropping blueberries is finding other acid-loving plants.

Antioxidant

Antioxidants are substances that protect the body from the damaging effects of free radicals, such as oxygen molecules. Blueberries are high in antioxidants and also have a high fiber content.

I recommend: WholeHealthMD.com provides extensive nutritional information on blueberries, including their antioxidant properties. This site also has tips on the storage and preparation of blueberries.

False fruit

A false fruit is a fruit in which some of the flesh is derived from adjacent tissue, rather than the ovary itself. The blueberry has an inferior ovary and is therefore known as a false berry.

I recommend: Health Lab provides a description of various types of fruit, including false fruits such as blueberries. Bananas and cranberries are other types of false berries.