Blueberries are one of the most popular berries globally, prized for their sweet flavor and nutritional value. When buying them, consumers encounter a distinction between “wild” and “cultivated” varieties. Cultivated blueberries represent the vast majority of fresh and frozen berries found in grocery stores and are the result of deliberate agricultural development.
The Primary Definition
A cultivated blueberry is derived primarily from the Highbush species, Vaccinium corymbosum. This species is native to North America and was first successfully domesticated for commercial production in New Jersey in the early 20th century. Cultivation focuses on traits that support high-yield farming and commercial viability, such as berry size, uniform ripening, and plant structure.
These cultivated plants are upright, multi-stemmed deciduous shrubs that can grow quite tall, reaching heights between 6 and 12 feet. The berries are significantly larger and plumper than their wild counterparts, often ranging from a quarter-inch to a half-inch in diameter. This larger size and growth habit make the fruit easier to harvest, particularly with mechanical pickers, which contributes to their commercial success in the fresh market.
Main Varieties Grown for Market
The commercial blueberry market is dominated by Highbush varieties, which are divided based on their climate requirements. Northern Highbush blueberries, the most common type grown worldwide, require a long period of winter chill to produce fruit. Popular cultivars like ‘Bluecrop’ and ‘Duke’ are known for their high yield, large size, and adaptability to cooler climates.
Southern Highbush varieties are hybrids developed to thrive in warmer regions with milder winters and a shorter chilling requirement. These varieties, often hybrids of V. corymbosum and southern native species like V. darrowii, allow for commercial production in states like Florida and California. Rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium virgatum) is another major cultivated type, native to the southeastern United States. Rabbiteye varieties, such as ‘Climax’ and ‘Premier’, are known for their tolerance to heat and less acidic soil, and they are generally later ripening.
Key Differences from Wild Blueberries
Cultivated blueberries (mostly Highbush) differ from wild blueberries (primarily Lowbush, Vaccinium angustifolium) in several ways. The most obvious difference is size and physical structure, as cultivated berries are much larger and plumper, growing on tall, managed shrubs. Conversely, wild blueberries are small, growing on low-lying shrubs that spread via underground runners (rhizomes) and are not intentionally planted.
The flavor profile and texture also differ significantly due to water content and the skin-to-pulp ratio. Cultivated berries contain more water, which gives them a milder flavor and a firmer texture. Wild blueberries, with their higher skin-to-pulp ratio, offer a more intense, concentrated, and complex sweet-tart flavor. This higher concentration of fruit material means wild blueberries contain higher levels of anthocyanins, the compounds responsible for the blue pigment and antioxidant capacity.
In terms of availability, cultivated blueberries are grown in structured rows on farms, offering a consistent, high-volume supply for the year-round fresh market. They are selectively bred for uniform ripening and ease of mechanical harvesting. Wild blueberries are primarily harvested from naturally occurring fields, called barrens, in specific regions like Maine and Atlantic Canada. The vast majority of the wild crop is immediately frozen after harvest to preserve quality, meaning they are most often purchased in the frozen section.