Bottling Maine’s Two-Week Harvest: The Story of Wild Blueberry Preservation

Introduction

In Maine, summer comes with a fleeting treasure: wild blueberries. For just two weeks each year, the hills and fields turn a deep blue, producing a fruit smaller, richer, and more flavorful than any cultivated berry. But what happens when the season ends? For centuries, the answer has been preservation. From Indigenous Wabanaki traditions to the modern artisanal craft of Planet Naskeag, wild blueberries have carried not only nutrition but also memory, resilience, and story.

The Ancient Wisdom: Wabanaki Traditions

Long before European settlers arrived in New England, the Wabanaki people — the original inhabitants of Maine — understood the importance of preserving blueberries. The berries were dried and mixed with cornmeal or meat to provide energy during the harsh winters

source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension

For the Wabanaki, blueberries were more than food; they were part of cultural survival and seasonal rhythm. Preserving them was an ancestral gesture of care — a way of holding on to summer’s vitality in the cold months.

The Settlers’ Adaptation: 17th Century Europe Meets Maine

When European settlers arrived in the 1600s, they brought with them techniques of pickling and preserving. Faced with Maine’s two-week harvest window, they quickly learned from Indigenous practices and adapted them with brines and vinegars.This created one of the earliest forms of wild fruit preservation in North America — a culinary blend of Old World knowledge and New World abundance.

Preservation became not only a necessity but also a ritual: to capture time in a jar, ensuring that fleeting nature could live on at the table.

The Civil War Era: From Local to National Fame

The 19th century gave blueberries a national stage. During the American Civil War (1861–1865), Maine’s sardine factories lost Southern markets and pivoted to canning blueberries instead. These jars were shipped to Union soldiers, who quickly developed a taste for the tangy, bold fruit.

When the war ended, soldiers returned home with memories of Maine’s blueberries, spreading their reputation across the country. What started as a short harvest in a northern state became a nationally admired flavor.

Today: Planet Naskeag and the Art of Slow Preservation

Fast forward to today: Planet Naskeag continues this legacy. Founded in 2019, the brand transforms the fleeting wild blueberry harvest into artisanal pickled preserves — not sweet like jam, but savory, tangy, and unforgettable.

Each jar is:

• Crafted in small batches.

• Made with 100% organic ingredients.

• Free from additives or shortcuts.

But more importantly, each jar carries a philosophy: “We don’t just preserve fruit — we bottle moments.” It is a way of honoring the ephemeral beauty of Maine’s two-week harvest and turning it into a flavor that lasts all year long.

Conclusion: More Than a Preserve, a Story

From the Wabanaki drying blueberries under the sun to Union soldiers discovering them during the Civil War, to Silvia Mathewson crafting them today in Brooklin, Maine, wild blueberry preservation has always been about more than food.

It’s about memory. It’s about resilience. And it’s about savoring what nature gives us — briefly — and carrying it forward.

Planet Naskeag’s Wild Pickled Blueberries are not just a product; they are the continuation of a story centuries in the making.