Although blueberry research at The University of Maine dates back at least to 1898, it was not until the 1940s that the state legislature set aside $25,000 for the purchase of a farm for blueberry research. The legislature also passed a companion piece of legislation, the Blueberry Tax law, to provide supplemental funding to the University for expansion of the research and extension programs. In 1946 the University purchased the Sullivan property, located on U.S. Route 1 midway between Jonesboro and Columbia Falls. This property consisted of about 30 acres without any buildings and was purchased for $2,500.

Blueberry Hill Farm was named through a contest open to schoolchildren, which was sponsored by the Blueberry Advisory Committee. Approximately 900 entries were received. Sentiments regarding the experimental farm are reflected in some of the suggested names, which included Blue Heaven, Weary Acres, Promise Farm, Grower's Hope, Maggot's End, and Odd Way Farm.

The land area of Blueberry Hill Farm was doubled in 1955 by the acquisition of an adjacent 30 acres of woodland. The principal reason for this purchase was to provide additional nursery space for the breeding program and for experiments that required clean cultivation. The original buildings at Blueberry Hill provided limited space for storing equipment and supplies, so in 1950 the farm crew built a storage building and a second facility was added in 1976.

Blueberry Hill Farm currently encompasses 60 acres on US Rt 1 in Jonesboro. The farm leases an adjacent six acres and has an additional five acres in Whitneyville. The facilities consist of an equipment garage, two storage buildings, and the farm manager’s house. A new 2,400 square-foot garage/carpenter shop was added in the Spring of 2004 and plans are underway to erect a new 4,000 square-foot laboratory and office building.

From its earliest days, scientists have used Blueberry Hill Farm for conducting blueberry-related research focusing on disease, weed, and insect control, pollination and honey bees, plant growth and nutrition, produce development and quality, breeding, and mechanization and harvesting.

Current projects include research on diseases of lowbush blueberry, including a disease survey of lowbush blueberry fields and infection strategies of blueberry pathogens. Other research involves improving yields through weed management in wild blueberries and upland cranberries and by developing a better understanding of the growth, propagation, and nutritional needs of blueberry plants. Scientists are also investigating the behavior and ecology of adult blueberry maggot flies to develop new control methods and at the same time implementing a strategy to minimize bee mortality in wild blueberry production. Other work includes improving irrigation management and designing better processing and production technologies for blueberries.

Directions

From Bangor, Maine: Follow I-395 to Ellsworth exit. Go Southeast on U.S. Rt. 1 to Jonesboro, Maine. Blueberry Hill Farm is on the left.

From Calais, Maine: Go Southwest on U.S. Rt. 1 to Jonesboro, Maine.  Blueberry Hill Farm is on the right.