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Highbush blueberries (also called cultivated blueberries) grow on bushes that are planted in long rows. The bushes can grow up to 12 feet tall, but most are around 6 feet tall. Clusters of beautiful white blossoms appear all over the bushes in the spring. The blossoms are pollinated by bees. Each blossom becomes one blueberry, first hard and green, then a reddish color and finally blue and sweet and ready to harvest. |
 
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The fresh blueberry harvest is mainly done by hand. It is hard work, but the pickers are experts and work very quickly. |  |
Blueberries are also picked by big machines called harvesters that move slowly along the rows of blueberry
bushes, gently shaking off the ripe berries.
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The blueberries are gathered in large bins and transported by truck or tractor from the field to the packing
plant.
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The blueberries are sorted and the bruised and unripe ones are removed. Only plump, beautiful berries are allowed to pass the inspection point. |
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Fresh blueberries are placed in clear plastic containers called "clam shell" containers. Most of them hold
1 pint (2 cups) of blueberries but you can find containers that are larger and smaller.
Lables are placed on each container by machine. The label has lots of good information on it, like where the blueberries are grown and the name of the company that packed them. |
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The containers are placed in cardboard boxes and stored in large refrigerated rooms, then loaded onto big trucks that take the blueberries to market. |  |
