JERSEY SHORE — Beachgoers in Wildwood, Atlantic City and Seaside Heights can get a free pint of Jersey Fresh blueberries on Wednesday, July 8, when the New Jersey Department of Agriculture marks National Blueberry Day with special Shore visits. NJDA marketing staff will distribute the blueberries beginning at 11 a.m. and continuing until supplies last.
The promotion is taking place with the New Jersey Blueberry Industry Advisory Council, which the department described as a state-run, grower-funded organization that supports the blueberry industry through assessments used for research, marketing and promotional strategies across the state.
The giveaway locations are the end of East Schellenger Avenue at the boardwalk near Morey’s Piers in Wildwood, on the boardwalk near Rita’s Water Ice at the end of New York Avenue in Atlantic City, and along the boardwalk in Seaside Heights.
“We are excited that visitors to the Jersey Shore have this opportunity to sample Jersey Fresh blueberries during National Blueberry Day from our farmers here in the Garden State,” NJDA Secretary Ed Wengryn said. “This event has been very popular since starting it in 2021, and we anticipate a high demand for delicious, local, Jersey Fresh blueberries.”
The department said the event comes during a season when support for local farmers is especially important. Many farmers across the state experienced crop loss because of the April freeze.
According to the NJDA, early blueberry varieties were affected, but most blueberry varieties and crops are still available for purchase in New Jersey. The department encouraged consumers and buyers across the country to continue supporting farmers, including blueberry growers, this season.
Blueberries were New Jersey’s No. 1 crop in 2025, according to the USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service figures cited by the NJDA. Almost 50 million pounds were harvested across 10,900 acres, with a production value of $94.4 million. New Jersey also ranks in the top seven nationally in blueberry production each year, according to the department.
Blueberry season in New Jersey lasts through the end of July. During the height of the season, production can reach 250,000 to 300,000 crates per day, according to the NJDA, which said that is one reason Hammonton is known as the “Blueberry Capital of the World.” The department also noted that cultivated blueberries were first grown in New Jersey in 1916 by Elizabeth Coleman White in Burlington County.
Residents looking for nearby farm stands and stores can visit FindJerseyFresh.com for locations and recipes featuring Jersey Fresh blueberries.
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