Distribution brings Maine wild blueberries to locations throughout New England
Farmers throughout the state demonstrate Real Maine ingenuity and are constantly thinking of new ways to market their products and connect with consumers. Ben Perrin, owner of Real Maine member Burke Hill Farm, says the farm’s “unique” delivery model was born from feedback he received from customers.
Burke Hill Farm, located on 200 acres in Cherryfield, delivered the bulk of its blueberries in years past on a wholesale basis by driving throughout the state. As time went by, Perrin kept hearing a common refrain during those delivery trips.
“We had individuals asking us if we could get off at this exit and drop off just a few boxes,” Perrin said.
Perrin said they would deliver those few boxes out of courtesy but didn’t think those kinds of deliveries were logistically possible on a larger scale. Burke Hill Farm used a cargo van that was not refrigerated, and to have a more individually based delivery model, they would need a refrigerated van – a very large one that could keep blueberries very, very cold.
Perrin finally found a refrigerated van that fit those requirements in late 2019. He bought it and Burke Hill Farm started advertising deliveries of frozen, five-pound boxes of blueberries to those who ordered them just as the COVID pandemic began.
Perrin finally found a refrigerated van that fit those requirements in late 2019. He bought it and Burke Hill Farm started advertising deliveries of frozen, five-pound boxes of blueberries to those who ordered them just as the COVID pandemic began.
Now Burke Hill Farm delivers those individual boxes for customers to pick up in central locations not only in Maine but in New Hampshire, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Perrin said the farm’s van is on the road for seven days a month, in addition to having berries available to buy at farmers’ markets, wholesale, and at the farm. He said seeing the new delivery model grow has been “really neat,” and getting their product in the hands of customers throughout New England has been gratifying.
“Organic wild blueberries aren’t generally something (customers) can generally find at the grocery store.”
Ben Perrin
“Organic wild blueberries aren’t generally something they can generally find at the grocery store,” Perrin said.
Those interested in receiving a five-pound box of Burke Hill Farm frozen wild blueberries at one of the central pickup locations can go to the farm’s website and fill out the online form. Delivery route dates and pickup times can be found on the website, as well.
Perrin has been working in the blueberry business in Maine for 34 total years and has been farming in our state’s barrens for 25 years. As a migrant farm worker, he came to work in the state’s wild blueberry fields and has never left.
“Out of all the different kinds of work I would do, my favorite job was to pick blueberries in Maine each year,” Perrin said.
Real Maine is the state’s official agriculture and agritourism promotions program. From flowers to blueberries to ice cream sundaes, plan your Real Maine summer agricultural experience. Visit www.RealMaine.com to connect to farms, food, and agriculture throughout Maine.
