As soon as fresh blueberries are picked at farms in Oregon’s lush Willamette Valley, the race is on to prevent the fruit from spoiling.
Blueberries ripen quickly after harvest, so they must be stored immediately at temperatures just above freezing to extend their shelf life. Any missteps can lead to waste, costing producers serious money. Oregon ranks number one in the country for blueberry production, valued at more than $180 million in 2018.
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