Brandenburg's blueberry harvest season begins as cultivation area triples in a decade

Harvest season begins

The blueberry harvest in Brandenburg has officially started and will run through September. State Secretary for Agriculture Stephan Nickisch launched the season in Beelitz, presenting the crop as a standout success. Blueberries are now the state's top bush berry, with a harvest of nearly 3,000 tons in 2025, far surpassing sea buckthorn. Nickisch described the cultivation as a "success story" for Brandenburg's agricultural sector.

A decade of expansion

The area dedicated to blueberries in Brandenburg has more than tripled over the past ten years, climbing from 120 hectares to 400 hectares. This rapid growth has positioned Brandenburg as Germany's second-largest producer of cultivated blueberries, behind only Lower Saxony. Approximately 20 farms are involved in blueberry production, and several invite consumers to pick their own fruit directly from the fields.

Weather and market conditions

Jürgen Jakobs, a farmer who grows both asparagus and blueberries, said the recent rainfall was eagerly awaited and vital for fruit development. He noted that the preceding heatwave, with its extreme temperatures, did not damage the berries. Jakobs expects regional blueberries to retail at supermarkets for 10 to 12 euros per kilogram, a price point that matches earlier reports of 5 to 6 euros per 500 grams.

The rain was eagerly awaited. It is good so that fruits can develop.

Health benefits and varieties

Cultivated blueberries are bred for farming and have light-colored flesh, so they do not stain the tongue, unlike wild blueberries. The Federal Center for Nutrition highlights that these low-sugar fruits are comparatively rich in vitamin E and manganese. Their high anthocyanin content is believed to offer cell-protective effects in the human body, contributing to their reputation as a superfood.