Climate Change Affects Maine's Blueberry Crops
2021-06-13
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1Maine's wild blueberry fields are home to one of the most important fruit crops in the northeastern United States.
2But scientists working with the University of Maine have found they are warming at a faster rate than the rest of the state.
3The researchers say the blueberries may be at risk because the rising temperatures have brought a loss of water.
4The scientists studied 40 years of data and found that the state experienced a 1.1 degrees Celsius increase in average temperature.
5But the blueberry fields experienced an increase of 1.3 degrees Celsius.
6The team's findings appeared in a study earlier this year in the research journal Water.
7Rafa Tasnim is an ecology and environmental science student at the University of Maine and the study's lead writer.
8She said the lack of water caused by the temperature difference could result in smaller crop sizes and blueberries that are less likely to survive.
9"What we are expecting is the temperature is going to increase a lot and we will not get as much rainfall in the summertime especially," said Tasnim.
10Maine is home to the only for-profit producers of wild blueberries in the U.S.
11The berries are smaller and have a slightly different flavor than other kinds of blueberries.
12Most of the crop is used to supply frozen fruit.
13Maine growers compete with those in eastern Canada which also produce the fruit.
14The wild blueberry industry in Maine has been affected in recent years by unpredictable markets, as well as last year's lack of water.
15Farmers produced 21.5 million kilograms of Maine wild blueberries last year.
16That was the lowest number since 2004.
17The researchers found that wild blueberry growers might need to change the way they farm to prepare for future climate change.
18That could include changes to watering methods and fertilizer use.
19Eric Venturini is executive director of the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine.
20He says the industry is ready to make those changes.
21Venturini added that the organization is working to find out how climate change is affecting the blueberry industry and looking for ways to deal with those changes.
22The berries are widely used in processed food products.
23In recent years, Maine and its growers have worked to market the berries as a superfood - a food containing compounds considered helpful to a person's health.
24The blueberries are also part of yearly agricultural events and the main ingredient of blueberry pie, the state's official dessert.
25And Maine's official berry is, not too surprisingly, the blueberry.
26I'm Jonathan Evans.
1Maine's wild blueberry fields are home to one of the most important fruit crops in the northeastern United States. But scientists working with the University of Maine have found they are warming at a faster rate than the rest of the state. 2The researchers say the blueberries may be at risk because the rising temperatures have brought a loss of water. 3The scientists studied 40 years of data and found that the state experienced a 1.1 degrees Celsius increase in average temperature. But the blueberry fields experienced an increase of 1.3 degrees Celsius. 4The team's findings appeared in a study earlier this year in the research journal Water. 5Rafa Tasnim is an ecology and environmental science student at the University of Maine and the study's lead writer. She said the lack of water caused by the temperature difference could result in smaller crop sizes and blueberries that are less likely to survive. 6"What we are expecting is the temperature is going to increase a lot and we will not get as much rainfall in the summertime especially," said Tasnim. 7Maine is home to the only for-profit producers of wild blueberries in the U.S. The berries are smaller and have a slightly different flavor than other kinds of blueberries. Most of the crop is used to supply frozen fruit. Maine growers compete with those in eastern Canada which also produce the fruit. 8The wild blueberry industry in Maine has been affected in recent years by unpredictable markets, as well as last year's lack of water. Farmers produced 21.5 million kilograms of Maine wild blueberries last year. That was the lowest number since 2004. 9The researchers found that wild blueberry growers might need to change the way they farm to prepare for future climate change. That could include changes to watering methods and fertilizer use. 10Eric Venturini is executive director of the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine. He says the industry is ready to make those changes. 11Venturini added that the organization is working to find out how climate change is affecting the blueberry industry and looking for ways to deal with those changes. 12The berries are widely used in processed food products. In recent years, Maine and its growers have worked to market the berries as a superfood - a food containing compounds considered helpful to a person's health. 13The blueberries are also part of yearly agricultural events and the main ingredient of blueberry pie, the state's official dessert. And Maine's official berry is, not too surprisingly, the blueberry. 14I'm Jonathan Evans. 15Patrick Whittle reported on this story for the Associated Press. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. 16____________________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18ingredient - n. one of the things used to make a food or product 19dessert - n. a sweet food eaten after the main part of a meal