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Wild blueberries were first appreciated by the Native Americans, who would dry them for much needed nutrition in the long, hard winter months. They were also used to heal various maladies such as morning sickness, headaches and coughs. The first time these precious little berries were commercially harvested was during the Civil War, when they were canned and sent to Union soldiers. 
Since then, wild blueberries have consistently grown in popularity, in large part due to their incredible nutritional value, their impressively high levels of antioxidants, and their ability to help in the prevention of cancer. Maine produces over 90 percent of the wild blueberry crops harvested each year in the United States. This adds up to approximately 30 million pounds of blueberries a year!Wild blueberries are smaller than their cultivated counterparts, and have a more intense, tangy-sweet flavor. The wild crops have the advantage of a broad range of variations which provide their distinctive flavor. Wild blueberries are often referred to as lowbush blueberries, while the cultivated berries are referred to as highbush blueberries. Cultivated blueberries are mostly hybrids, thus allowing more successful growth in other parts of both the United States and the rest of the world. 
Wild blueberries are not planted, but tended to, and encouraged to grow in a healthy and supportable way. The glacial fields and barrens of Maine provide an ideal combination of soil and climate which enables these vitamin-packed berries to flourish for thousands of years. Wild blueberry crops are maintained by farmers who own the land they grow on, and many farmers have been doing so for generations.The wild blueberry bush has a 2 year cycle, which means that every other year a blueberry bush will produce berries. During the year that no berries are produced, the farmers try to help the vegetative growth to increase. This helps the general health of the blueberry bush as a whole plant. During a blueberry-producing year, the plant is prepared for an August harvest, when the blueberries will be ready for picking. When August comes and it's time to harvest the wild blueberries, a special kind of rake is used. It was created by a Mainer from the Downeast area by the name of Abijah Tabbutt over 100 years ago. Since then this special rake has undergone some minor variations. This rake is closed-tined and still in prevalent use today. In fact, some wild blueberry-picking farms provide them to visitors. Try Some Great Blueberry Recipes:
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