The Northern Ontario Wild Blueberry Co-operative Inc. is a collective of individuals and organizations of the Sudbury District who strongly believe that there is a viable blueberry market in Northern Ontario. And this summer they intend to prove that their theory is correct!

Mick Low, shown in the photo, is one of the local leaders who is spearheading the operation this summer. He and several other members of the Board of Directors held a public meeting in June at the Valley East Town Hall to explain their plans. Approximately 20 interested persons were in attendance.

Ward 3 Councillor, Louise Portelance, who was the Chair of the Economic Development Committee when the company was formed several years ago, announced that, “Once again our main goal will be to provide the highest possible price for the world’s best wild blueberries to the people who do all the hard work - the pickers.” For the past two years, the co-op has been studying ways to enter the local blueberry market, including the preparation of a major feasibility study financed by the former Sudbury Regional Development Corporation (SRDC).

Mick Low explained, “We believe there is a profit to be made this summer and that a very lucrative business can be established with the right organization and proper marketing. We have buyers who will take all of the blueberries we can give them. Now all we have to do is get them from the bush to the market.”

The co-op has an agreement with a local entrepreneur who will buy all the berries the co-op can supply this summer. Plans to pay pickers as much as $5 per quart are now in place.

Several drop-off sites are now being arranged in the area so that pickers can bring their blueberries and receive proper compensation for their work. Anyone can sell blueberries to the co-op, however, members will be eligible for bonuses or for the first chance at higher prices for special orders. The drop sites will likely be along the four major arteries in the City of Greater Sudbury.

The Co-op sees late June and July as the window of opportunity for the blueberry harvest in the Sudbury area. It is during this time that the blueberries in Quebec are not yet ready for harvest. Therefore, if pickers can concentrate their efforts during this period of time, they will fetch the highest prices for their berries.