Maine State Berry
Wild Blueberry
Coloring Page
Wild blueberries are harvested from late July to early September in Maine. Harvesting is still mainly by hand rake - a close-tined special rake invented about 112 years ago by Abijah Tabbutt and modified in minor variations since then. The secret is in the wielding of the rake - a special pushing and twisting motion of the wrists designed to tease the ripe berries from their grasp of the vine without crushing. Hand-raking is increasingly being replaced by mechanized harvesting. Although the technology is getting very good, hand-raking will always have its place - due in large part to the hilly and rocky terrain that a lot of wild blueberry patches are found on.
Courtesy of State of Maine
