LANSING, Mich. – Michigan blueberry growers have overwhelmingly approved a referendum to continue their marketing and research commodity group, the state’s agriculture department announced.

There were 67 qualified ballots cast in the referendum, which occurred in March. Of those, 59 producers, or 88 percent, voted yes. Those producers represent approximately 46 million pounds, or 89 percent, of blueberry production. The eight producers who voted no represent about 5.6 million pounds of production.

Nancy Nyquist, blueberry program executive director, expressed cautious optimism about the vote in a published report in Farm World a few weeks ago. “I feel good about our chances of success,” she stated.  “I think we’ve had good success at communicating with our growers. I’m hopeful that the growers will want the program to continue. I think we’ve been responsible with the growers’ money.”

Last week, Michigan Blueberry Commission board member Creela Hamlin expressed her delight over the vote. “We’re all very excited about the continuation of the program,” she said. “It’s wonderful.”

The Michigan Blueberry Research and Education Program was established in 2017 for the purpose of improving the economic position and competitiveness of the state’s blueberry industry. “The goal is to keep Michigan’s blueberry industry on the cutting edge of new technology as well as implement new research keeping those farmers economically viable in the world market,” according to a blueberry program announcement. “The program emphasizes advancements in blueberry research, information delivery, and Michigan industry-wide collaboration.”

This program, like others of its kind in Michigan, is sanctioned under state law and must be renewed every five years by a vote of the relevant growers. For renewal of the program and its activities, more than 50 percent of the voting producers, representing more than 50 percent of the pounds sold by those voting, must have approved it.

The program will begin its next five-year cycle May 1, 2022. The current assessment for the fiscal period is fixed on producers at a maximum rate of three tenths of a cent per pound of blueberries sold.

Michigan is one of the largest blueberry growing states in the country, producing an average of 92 million pounds with more than 30 different varieties. There are 575 blueberry growers in the state, with most of them located in Allegan, Berrien, Muskegon, Ottawa and Van Buren counties. Michigan has more than 20,000 acres devoted to blueberries. According to the program, Michigan blueberry production contributes nearly $132 million to the state’s economy each year.