Wild Blueberries

What Wild Blueberries does

Wild Blueberries of North America (doing business as Wild Blueberries) is the trade association representing approximately 480 wild blueberry growers and processors across Maine and Atlantic Canada, operating a U.S. headquarters in Old Town, Maine and a Canadian office in Upper Kingsclear, New Brunswick, and employing 251–500 staff. The organization was founded in 1997 to market and demand-create for Vaccinium angustifolium — a lowbush blueberry native to Maine's glacial soils that cannot be commercially cultivated elsewhere — and does not directly produce or sell blueberries itself; rather, it is funded by grower assessments and runs demand-generation programs that drive downstream wholesale and retail volume for ~11 Maine processors (Cherryfield Foods, Jasper Wyman & Son, Maine Wild Blueberry Co., Franklin Processing, Passamaquoddy Wild Blueberry Co., Merrill Blueberry Farms, and others).

Its core product surface is the eight processed forms of wild blueberry it promotes: frozen IQF (flash-frozen within 24 hours of harvest), fresh seasonal (August–September), dried/dehydrated/sugar-infused, canned, concentrate, puree, powder, and extract — with proprietary positioning rooted in the fruit's documented 33% higher anthocyanin content and 2x antioxidant capacity versus cultivated blueberries. The association's go-to-market is multi-channel and integrated: a consumer-facing content hub (wildblueberries.com, blog, email newsletter, social across Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest/X/YouTube), a B2B trade-focused platform (the "Power of Wild" blog targeting foodservice operators, CPG product developers, and brand managers), an annual experiential event (Wild Blueberry Weekend in Maine), and international trade promotion into the UK, Japan, China, Germany, and Korea alongside the U.S. and Canada.

Revenue mechanics are assessment-funded rather than unit-sale-funded: WBANA does not invoice customers directly, but its marketing output flows into retail shelves at Costco, Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Kroger, and Sam's Club, into branded CPG (Chobani Wild Blueberry yogurt, Panera menu items), into foodservice distribution, and into USDA-aligned K-12 school nutrition programs. Pricing is set at the processor/retailer layer, not by the association; WBANA's economic value is in driving category demand and protecting a price premium that, per its own consumer research, 64% of consumers are willing to pay above alternatives.

Name

Wild Blueberries

Legal name

Wild Blueberries of North America

Website

https://wildblueberries.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Wild Blueberries is the 1997-founded North American trade association representing ~480 wild blueberry growers and processors in Maine and Atlantic Canada, funding grower-assessment-driven marketing that promotes native Vaccinium angustifolium through eight processed forms, major U.S. retailers, foodservice operators, CPG brands, and K-12 school nutrition programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Trade Association

NAICS

Berry (except Strawberry) Farming (111334), Noncitrus Fruit and Tree Nut Farming (11133)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030), Forestry (800), Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)

akta.pro primary industry

Forest Berries & Wild Fruit Harvesting (AFAMAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Berry Farming (Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Cranberries) (AFAGACAD)

Keywords

• Wild blueberries
• Frozen fruit products
• Agricultural trade association
• Blueberry ingredients
• Foodservice supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Maine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Industry Promotion and Marketing: WBANA serves as a trade association that promotes wild blueberry consumption through marketing programs funded by grower assessments. The organization does not sell products directly but drives demand for wild blueberries across retail, foodservice, and manufacturing channels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Wild Blueberries (Wild Blueberry Association of North America / WBANA) is a trade association representing wild blueberry growers and processors from Maine and Canada. The organization promotes wild blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium) through marketing programs, trade outreach, and consumer education, with the actual products including frozen IQF, fresh seasonal, dried, concentrate, puree, powder, extract, and canned wild blueberries distributed across retail, foodservice, and food manufacturing channels.

Product overview

Wild Blueberries is a trade association representing wild blueberry growers from Maine and Canada. The core product is wild blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium), which are marketed in multiple forms: Frozen Fresh (IQF), Fresh (seasonal), Dried/Dehydrated, Canned, Concentrate, Puree, Powder, and Extract. The frozen wild blueberries are the flagship product, processed within 24 hours of harvest and available year-round. Fresh wild blueberries are available seasonally (August-September). The association also provides specialized school foodservice products with USDA alignment, and supports the wholesale/trade market with bulk ingredient forms for food manufacturers, foodservice operators, and bakeries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Frozen Wild Blueberries Flash-frozen wild Maine blueberries processed within 24 hours of harvest to lock in freshness, antioxidants, and nutritional value. Available year-round in the frozen fruit section of supermarkets for retail consumers.
• Fresh Wild Blueberries Seasonal fresh wild blueberries harvested at peak ripeness from Maine barrens, available August through September for retail consumers and farm-direct buyers.
• IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) Wild Blueberries Individually quick frozen wild blueberries available in trade packs and consumer packs for year-round wholesale distribution to foodservice operators and food manufacturers.
• Wild Blueberry Dried/Dehydrated Products Dried and dehydrated wild blueberry products including sugar-infused varieties, available in trade and consumer packs year-round for commercial and retail use.
• Wild Blueberry Concentrate Wild blueberry concentrate available in bulk trade packs for year-round commercial use in food and beverage manufacturing.
• Wild Blueberry Puree Wild blueberry puree available in trade packs for year-round commercial and industrial food production applications.
• Wild Blueberry Powder Wild blueberry powder in trade packs for year-round use in food manufacturing and product formulation.
• Wild Blueberry Extract Wild blueberry extract available in both trade and consumer packs for year-round distribution.
• Canned Wild Blueberries Canned wild blueberries in trade and consumer packs available year-round.
• Wild Blueberry School Foodservice Products USDA-aligned frozen wild blueberry products specifically formatted for school nutrition programs, including IQF formats with USDA Food Buying Guide item numbers (#100243 and #100242). Designed for K-12 foodservice directors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 69% more likely to buy products containing wild blueberries vs ordinary blueberries
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WR Allen, Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMaine-based wild blueberry supplier providing IQF frozen wild blueberries to foodservice and manufacturing customers from Orland, ME.
• B WildcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCalais, Maine supplier offering IQF, fresh, fresh frozen berries and jam products.
• BluetcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMaine supplier specializing in bulk fresh-pressed juice and bulk 6% alcohol wine made from wild blueberries.
• Blue Sky ProducecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPhillips, Maine supplier providing fresh pints, quarts, bulk, and frozen wild blueberries in various package sizes.
• Brodis Wild BlueberriescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMaine supplier offering fresh quarts, 5 and 10 pound fresh and frozen berries, plus wild blueberry inspired products including jams, sauces, and alcoholic spirits.
• Cherryfield Foods InccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor Maine processor offering concentrate, IQF, foodservice packs, retail packs, puree, and dried wild blueberry products.
• Franklin Processing Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFranklin, Maine processor specializing in IQF wild blueberries.
• Jasper Wyman & SoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMilbridge, Maine processor offering canned, concentrate, foodservice packs, IQF, retail club packs, puree and other wild blueberry forms.
• Maine Wild Blueberry CocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMaine processor providing concentrate, IQF, foodservice and retail packs, puree, and dried wild blueberry products.
• Merrill Blueberry Farms InccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEllsworth, Maine supplier offering IQF and IQF Organic wild blueberries.
• Passamaquoddy Wild Blueberry Co.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNative American tribe-owned processor in Columbia Falls, ME offering IQF 30 lb cases (conventional and organic) and freeze-dried products.
• Panera BreadminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHead baker Tom Gumpel quoted in Power of Wild marketing materials endorsing wild blueberries as a unique ingredient claim.
• ChobaniminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured in trade blog as partner using wild blueberries in Chobani Wild Blueberry yogurt product line.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Naturipe Farms: Large grower-owned berry producer marketing blueberries, strawberries, and other berries through retail and foodservice. Comparable as a competing branded berry supplier competing for the same retail and ingredient customer base.
• Driscoll's: Market-leading berry marketer (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries) with global supply, branded retail presence, and strong foodservice and CPG channels. Comparable as a competing premium berry brand competing for the same retail shelf and foodservice menu.
• Ocean Spray Cranberries: Large farmer-owned cooperative promoting cranberries through trade marketing, branded CPG products, and foodservice. Comparable as a grower-cooperative trade organization with international distribution and branded ingredient presence.
• Sunkist Growers: Iconic citrus grower cooperative with branded marketing across retail and foodservice channels. Analogous as a regional commodity trade organization that has built a strong consumer brand around a single-fruit category with health and origin storytelling.

Direct peers

• Cranberry Institute: Trade association for cranberry growers and processors with a comparable single-region, single-fruit promotional mandate. Closely analogous business model — nonprofit industry promotion for a North American native fruit category.
• US Highbush Blueberry Council: Direct competitor trade association representing cultivated highbush blueberry growers and marketers. Operates as the closest substitute category at retail, with similar marketing/consumer-education mandate but a fundamentally different product (Vaccinium corymbosum).
• Jasper Wyman & Son: Milbridge, Maine-based wild blueberry processor offering canned, concentrate, IQF, retail club packs, puree, and other wild blueberry forms. Direct peer as one of the largest processors in the wild blueberry value chain and listed WBANA supplier.
• Passamaquoddy Wild Blueberry Co. Native American tribe-owned wild blueberry processor in Columbia Falls, Maine offering IQF and freeze-dried products. Direct peer in the wild blueberry processor cohort serving the same wholesale customer base.
• North American Blueberry Council: Industry-wide blueberry council representing the broader blueberry value chain across North America. Most comparable as a parallel trade/industry body addressing blueberry promotion, research, and policy.
• Cherryfield Foods: Major Maine-based wild blueberry processor offering concentrate, IQF, foodservice packs, retail packs, puree, and dried wild blueberry products. Listed WBANA partner and most direct operational comparable within the wild blueberry supply chain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wildbberries
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/WildBlueberries4u
• Facebookfacebook.com/wildblueberries
• Instagraminstagram.com/wildblueberries
• Pinterestpinterest.com/wildbberries
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wild-blueberries

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wild Blueberries