Official Site of The State of New Jersey

(TRENTON) – The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) will highlight National Blueberry Day on Wednesday, July 8 with special visits to the shore towns of Wildwood, Atlantic City and Seaside Heights. NJDA marketing staff will be on hand to distribute free pints of Jersey Fresh blueberries to beachgoers.

The National Blueberry Day promotion is taking place in conjunction with the New Jersey Blueberry Industry Advisory Council; a state-run, grower-funded organization that works to support the New Jersey blueberry industry through the collection of assessments used to fund industry research, marketing, and promotional strategies across the state.

“We are excited that visitors to the Jersey Shore have this opportunity to sample Jersey Fresh blueberries during National Blueberry Day from our farmers here in the Garden State,” NJDA Secretary Ed Wengryn said. “This event has been very popular since starting it in 2021, and we anticipate a high demand for delicious, local, Jersey Fresh blueberries.”

Blueberries will be available beginning at 11:00 a.m. until supplies last, at the following locations: the end of East Schellenger Avenue at the boardwalk near Morey’s Piers in Wildwood, on the boardwalk near Rita’s Water Ice at the end of New York Avenue in Atlantic City, and along the boardwalk in Seaside Heights.

During this season in particular, the emphasis on supporting local farmers is of the utmost importance. Many farmers across the state experienced devastating crop loss due to the April freeze. Although the early varieties of blueberries were affected, the majority of the blueberry varieties and crops are still available for purchase in New Jersey. The NJDA encourages consumers and buyers across the nation to continue supporting all of our farmers, including our blueberry farmers, this season.

Blueberries were the No. 1 crop in New Jersey in 2025. Almost 50 million pounds of blueberries were harvested across 10,900 acres, with a production value of $94.4 million according to the USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service. New Jersey annually ranks in the top seven nationally in the production of blueberries.

Blueberry season in New Jersey lasts through the end of July. During the height of the season, production can be as high as 250,000-300,000 crates per day, which is one reason Hammonton, New Jersey is known as the “Blueberry Capital of the World.” Eating blueberries is beneficial to health as they are low in calories and high in nutrients. The cultivated blueberry was first grown in New Jersey in 1916 by Elizabeth Coleman White in Burlington County.

Visit www.FindJerseyFresh.com to find where Jersey Fresh blueberries are available near you and to discover recipes which incorporate Jersey blues.

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The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA), established in 1916, serves New Jersey’s agricultural community and residents through a wide range of programs across its divisions that ensure the preservation and continuation of the state’s agricultural landscape. NJDA works to ensure the safety and quality of New Jersey’s food supply, protect animal and plant health, and promote the overall long-term viability of agriculture. The Department also connects consumers with New Jersey’s farmers and locally grown products while supporting the state’s diverse agricultural industry through initiatives of the Jersey Fresh program.

For more information about the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NJDeptofAgriculture and www.facebook.com/JerseyFreshOfficial; on Instagram @njdeptofagriculture; on X/Twitter @NJDA and @JerseyFreshNJDA; and on LinkedIn at New Jersey Department of Agriculture.