Guess what? The fresh blueberries you buy at the store are not wild blueberries. My fascination with wild blueberries began as a child when I stumbled upon them while wandering the woods. Unlike their cultivated cousins, true wild blueberries grow naturally without human intervention, thriving in the harsh climates of northern Maine and parts of Canada. Research shows that they naturally grow in barrens created by glaciers 10,000 years ago. These berries spread underground through rhizomes, forming dense, low bushes. They are smaller and burst with intense, nuanced flavors that make each bite unique as it is delicious. If you’re curious about trying them, you’re in luck! Blueberry season is upon us starting late July.

In the summer of 2022, I was introduced to the wonders of the true wild blueberry— a serendipitous encounter that led me on a journey to northern Maine with the Wild Blueberry Association of North America. There, I had the privilege of hand raking wild blueberries alongside the Passamaquoddy. This experience deepened my appreciation for these resilient berries and the people who have cherished them for generations. I spoke to Holli Francis, the product manager at Passamaquoddy Blueberries to get more insights into their rich cultural heritage and unwavering commitment to sustainability. Here are 5 things to know about wild blueberries and the voices who have been stewarding the land for thousands of years.

Historical and Cultural Significance

For the Passamaquoddy people, wild blueberries are more than just a source of sustenance; they are a cornerstone of cultural identity. “The Passamaquoddy way of life was to hunt, fish, trap, and gather food and medicine, and employ the environment’s natural resources to sustain their communities” Francis says. Historically, these berries were consumed alongside abundant seafood reflecting the tribe’s deep connection to their coastal environment. The name “Passamaquoddy” itself translates to “people who spear pollock,” highlighting their intimate relationship with nature. Wild blueberries were also used as a form of medicine, a practice now supported by scientific evidence showing their high antioxidant and anthocyanin content. Additionally, these berries served as a dye for sweetgrass used in basket weaving and other crafts, showcasing their multifaceted role in Passamaquoddy life.

Sustainable Harvesting Practices

The Passamaquoddy Tribe has long employed sustainable practices to ensure the longevity of wild blueberry plants. Unlike traditional farming– where soil is disturbed– the tribe allows these hardy plants to thrive naturally in the rocky, dry barrens of Maine. Harvesting is done without planting, preserving the natural landscape. The tribe manages their 2,000 acres on a biennial cycle, harvesting 1,000 acres each year to allow the plants to rest and regenerate. Off-year burning of fields promotes regeneration and reduces pests, a practice that aligns with modern sustainable agriculture principles.

Sacred Connection and Community Gathering

Every year, hundreds of Passamaquoddy people as well as other Wabanaki tribes of all ages gather to harvest, share, strengthen and connect with their communities– the annual wild blueberry harvest is a sacred tradition. “It’s a short harvest – just four weeks – but it is important for many tribal members to feel a connection to Earth’s bounty,” says Francis. During the harvest, they gather to hand-rake blueberries, a method passed down through generations. I had the opportunity to try it out and I can tell you first-hand that it certainly isn’t easy! It requires patience, skill and technique. Some skilled pickers can fill up to 50 crates of wild blueberries a day.

At the end of the day, this event is more than just a harvest; it is a time for community, connection, and cultural preservation. Despite historical challenges and encroachments, families come together to strengthen bonds and maintain traditions, passing it down for the next generations to come. The harvest symbolizes resilience and the enduring strength of the Passamaquoddy culture. Like many Indigenous tribes of North America, they have faced substantial loss of their ancestral lands to colonization in addition to dealing with cultural suppression and economic hardships. “The wild blueberries remain strong. Families join us at our barrens for a sense of community, connection and a feeling of centuries past.” says Francis.

Organizations such as the Wild Blueberry Association (WBA) have largely centered Indigenous voices alongside their efforts to fund further research into the wild blueberries and beyond. As a result, they are making significant strides when it comes to preserving Indigenous knowledge and encouraging folks to eat wild and partnering with companies like Wyman’s to get them into the hands of as many people as possible. This year, the WBA is hosting their fourth annual Wild Blueberry Weekend where folks can tour wild blueberry farms, pick wild blueberries and learn all about the origins of the fruit. They’ve even partnered with venues such as the Bissell Brothers to spread the wild blueberry joy and knowledge by offering menu items such as blueberry pie ice cream, or corn pudding with blueberry compote.

Economic Impact and Tribal Sustainability

Wild blueberries play a crucial economic role for the Passamaquoddy community as they were among the first to harvest wild blueberries and have been doing so for over 1,000 years. The tribe’s ownership of the Passamaquoddy Wild Blueberry Company (PWBC) allows them to reinvest profits into the business, creating jobs for tribal members and supporting community initiatives at Pleasant Point and Indian Township. This economic model fosters self-sufficiency and ensures that the benefits of wild blueberry cultivation are felt directly within the community, reinforcing the tribe’s commitment to sustainable development and cultural preservation.

The economic impact extends beyond just job creation. The PWBC’s operations provide full-time, year-round, and seasonal jobs for Passamaquoddy Tribe members, contributing significantly to the local economy. By maintaining traditional practices and adapting to market demands, the company has managed to remain economically viable while honoring cultural traditions​ (Maine Made)

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite their deep-rooted practices, the Passamaquoddy face challenges in maintaining and promoting wild blueberry cultivation. The market is flooded with cultivated and non-domestic wild blueberries, driving down prices and threatening the viability of traditional hand-raking methods. However, the tribe is addressing these challenges through innovation and education. A USDA Value-Added Producer Grant in 2020 enabled the development of a brand for their wild blueberries, giving them control over their story and market positioning. “We ventured to create our own brand of wild blueberries, giving us control over our story – we can share not only the importance of wild blueberries to Maine but the importance of this incredible fruit to Maine’s First Nations” says Holli. By promoting the superior antioxidant content and cultural significance of wild blueberries, the Passamaquoddy are creating a niche market that values sustainability and indigenous heritage.

This grant also allowed the Passamaquoddy to find ways to strike a balance between using technology to their advantage while also preserving their hand-raking traditions. Like many others in the agricultural industry, they are beginning to explore the use of AI and other advanced technologies in their blueberry farming practices. The hope there is to be able to enhance efficiency and sustainability. AI technologies are now being developed to identify and manage weeds more effectively in wild blueberry fields which limits unnecessary herbicide use, and at the sorting facilities, advanced sorting machines can use AI to sort berries by size and detect and remove defective berries more efficiently. More on that later.

The Passamaquoddy’s approach to wild blueberry cultivation is a testament to the power of tradition and sustainability. By sharing their story, we can all learn valuable lessons about respecting nature, preserving cultural heritage while advocating for Indigenous rights and supporting sustainable food systems.

For the city kids who didn’t get to play soccer, tennis, basketball, or track and field at the Melnea Cass Recreational Complex in Roxbury all spring, it’s probably tough to understand that the reason is because a bunch of adults almost 500 miles away can’t get their act together. They’d likely be similarly confused to learn that their fieldhouse became a shelter for dozens of vulnerable kids who came to America because adults in their native countries couldn’t get it right there either.

When I lived in Roxbury while attending law school, after becoming the first in my family to graduate high school and college, I played ball at Washington Park (also known as Malcom X Park), usually the only white guy, and probably with the dads of some of the kids barred from the Cass complex the last few months, before it finally reopened last week.

Before that, I was an inner-city kid myself with limited access to sports facilities, and even fewer avenues out of what was then, and remains, one of the most impoverished and dangerous neighborhoods in America.

So the Cass complex’s conversion to a migrant shelter really hit home.

I recently visited Yuma, Arizona, where I was stationed during my time as a U.S. Marine Judge Advocate, to witness the problem firsthand. The crisis I saw there, which is hurting working families here in Massachusetts, is two-fold: national security and humanitarian.

As much as 50% of the fentanyl tearing apart our communities comes through Yuma, Arizona. Not only is Washington’s inability to solve this crisis hurting those who already live in America, but the migrants being trafficked alongside it are also at risk. Asylum seekers hoping for a better life in the U.S. face a treacherous journey at the hands of the cartels. Women and children are raped or abused by traffickers who don’t care if they survive.

Congressional inability to address the serious problems facing this country is no longer a theoretical exercise or a punchline; it’s harming our kids’ development and quality of life. In Massachusetts, we see other tangible impacts. Governor Maura Healey has projected the emergency shelter program will cost nearly $1 billion next fiscal year, in addition to $700 million already spent this year, while our state’s one-party leaders have implored their counterparts in Washington – like Senator Elizabeth Warren – to address this exploding crisis.

What else could that $1.7 billion be doing in Massachusetts? How about repairing our roads and transit system, in such dangerous disrepair? Or ameliorating the educational crisis? In Boston, our kids aren’t just losing access to the Cass complex; the school district itself is teetering on receivership.

Do you think the rest of the state might benefit from $1.7 billion to help combat an upswing in violent crime? In 2022, the most recent year for which federal data is available, violent crime in Massachusetts rose, while dropping nationwide. Some of the alleged perpetrators made their way into Massachusetts by claiming to be refugees before committing violent crimes. Police departments, diversion programs, substance abuse and recovery efforts – all of these could benefit from precious state funds now being funneled into a problem that Washington created and refuses to fix.

Working families are suffering because of Washington dysfunction, and no amount of press releases, viral videos, or soundbites will fix that. Nor will new taxes from cannabis, gambling, or millionaires.

That’s a big reason I’m running against Senator Warren this year; it’s not just that Washington is broken, it’s that Washington is breaking great states like Massachusetts. Senator Warren voted against the bipartisan border legislation, voting with MAGA Republicans to sink the bill at the cost of her own constituents. Even worse, Senator Warren is talking out of both sides of her mouth on the issue.

This is the problem with Washington politicians – on both sides of the aisle. They become beholden to the special interest groups who exact outlandish policy promises to help them win primaries while red and blue states become even more polarized. It’s a cynical way to run a country, and those who have become a part of it should examine whether they’ve stayed true to their promise to voters.

I am running to be your senator to stand up for the poor and middle class. I have fought for the underdog my entire life, and I’ll do the same in the Senate. This era of gridlock and cynicism has to end.

The kids who run and play ball at the Cass complex don’t deserve to lose another season.

John Deaton is a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate and an attorney specializing in representing asbestos victims suffering from mesothelioma.

CONCORD, NH — Lena M. Jameson, born 1957, of Concord was arrested at 10:34 a.m. on June 26, 2024, on an endangering the welfare of a child charge after an incident or investigation on Highland Street.

Dakota Austin Marsh, born 1994, of Concord received a summons at 11 p.m. on June 25 on a criminal trespass charge after an incident or investigation at the Friendly Kitchen at 2 S. Commercial St.

Abel Dusabimana, born 1985, of Concord received a summons at 7:53 p.m. on June 25 on a conduct prohibited in parks violation after an incident or investigation at Keach Park.

Alexander C. Crosby, born 1988, of Concord received a summons at 7:10 a.m. on May 29 on a conduct after an accident charge and an improper backing-interstate violation after an incident or investigation at 36 S. Main St.

Jacky Dillion Sherrard, 27, of Concord was arrested at 4:37 a.m. on May 29 on a generic city ordinance violation after an incident or investigation at the Durgin Block Parking Garage at 17 School St.

Kimberly Lynette Orantes, born 1976, of Concord received a summons at 2 a.m. on May 29 on a bench warrant after an incident or investigation on North Main Street.

Yadiel Ortega Montero, born 2001, of Marlborough, MA, was arrested at 1:51 p.m. on April 22 on violation of a protective order, stalking, and breach of bail charge after an incident or investigation on Prospect Street.

Michael S. Carter, born 1976, of Hillsboro was arrested at 4:40 p.m. on April 22 on criminal threatening and disorderly conduct charges after an incident or investigation at the Gully Hill Shell gas station at 24 Loudon Road.

Timothy C. Casey, 22, of Concord was arrested at 11:44 a.m. on April 22 on criminal threatening and disorderly conduct charges after an incident or investigation on Clinton Street.

Robby A. Moore, born 1959, of Concord received a summons at 10:41 a.m. on April 22 on a theft by unauthorized taking charge after an incident or investigation at Hannaford supermarket at 73 Fort Eddy Road.

Kera M. Mattocks, born 1978, of Concord was arrested at 8:20 a.m. on April 22 on a driving after revocation or suspension charge after an incident or investigation on South State Street.

Nathaniel G. Griffin, born 1999, of Leominster, MA, was arrested at 12:41 a.m. on April 22 on a bench warrant after an incident or investigation at 118 Storrs St.

Jazman R. Landry, born 1995, of Concord was arrested at 9:10 p.m. on April 21 on aggravated driving under the influence-passenger under 16, DUI, and endangering the welfare of a child charge as well as a yellow-solid line violation after an incident or investigation on South Street.

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