Effect of Mechanical Harvesting Technology Type and Harvester Ownership and Services Acquisition Methods on Profitability of Wild Blueberry Production

The profitability of wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) production using two alternative mechanical harvesters was evaluated under three different harvester ownership/service arrangements commonly used by farmers. Production data for the economic analysis were obtained from on-farm trials conducted in Nova Scotia, Canada. Net returns were CAD$323 ha−1 using a semi-automatic bin handling system compared with CAD$281 ha−1 for a small box handling system with outright harvester purchase. By comparison, net returns were CAD$90 ha−1 using the semi-automatic bin handling system and CAD$63 ha−1 using the small box system using rental harvesting services. The results are more sensitive to changes in yield than price.