Dismal spring weather may undermine Down East wild blueberry production — Down East — Bangor Daily News — BDN Maine

MACHIAS, Maine — It’s been a cold, wet and foggy spring along the Down East coastline, which doesn’t bode well for the wild blueberry crop.

Last month, growers trucked in a billion honeybees from as far away as California to pollinate Maine’s 60,000 acres of blueberry barrens. With as many as five hives per acre, there was no shortage of bees, but the critters don’t “work” when its cold and wet, opting instead to hunker down within their hives to stay warm. And, without pollination, there’s no fruit.