WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution, cosponsored by Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, designating the month of July as “National Blueberry Month.” The resolution recognizes the importance of blueberries to Maine, and the United States’ agricultural economy, and highlights the crop’s history. Senators Collins and King included language in the resolution specifically paying tribute to Maine wild blueberries and Wabanaki blueberry heritage.

“Wild blueberries have a special place in our state’s history, providing nutritious, delicious fruit for centuries dating back to Maine's tribal communities, who first cultivated the crop,” said Senators Collins and King. “Today, wild blueberries continue to be an economic powerhouse for the state’s economy, family businesses, and rural communities – not to mention a sought-after treat and baking staple for people worldwide. This bipartisan resolution honors the blueberry industry’s many vital contributions along with the generations of Maine people who have supported the iconic product. We appreciate our colleagues’ unanimous recognition of this fruit’s cultural and economic significance, and will continue to work to ensure a bright future for the industry.”

Senators Collins and King have long advocated for the Maine blueberry industry and its farmers. Amid the pandemic, they joined a bipartisan group in successfully urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make blueberry growers eligible for the $16 billion in agricultural assistance provided by the CARES Act. They also recently called on the Biden Administration to expand markets for Maine blueberries and reduce barriers facing farmers who export the fruit.

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