LANSING, Mich. — Michigan’s blueberry growers have an opportunity to vote on whether to continue the Michigan Blueberry Research and Education Program in a referendum conducted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) beginning Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, through Friday, March 11, 2022.

Ballots were mailed to blueberry growers Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Eligible growers with questions, or those not receiving a ballot, should contact MDARD toll-free at 800-292-3939 or send an email to Guardiolaj1@michigan.gov. All ballots must be received in the MDARD Lansing office by, or postmarked, no later than March 11, 2022.

The Michigan Blueberry Research and Education Program was developed to improve the economic position and competitiveness of the Michigan blueberry industry by supporting research. The goal for the program is to keep Michigan’s blueberry industry on the cutting edge of new technology as well as to implement new research that will keep Michigan’s farmers economically viable in the world market into the future.

By law, the program, established in 2017 must be renewed every five years. For the program to be renewed, more than 50 percent of the votes cast by growers, representing more than 50 percent of the total pounds represented on the cast ballots, must approve it.

For the purpose of this referendum, each grower is entitled to one vote representing a single firm, individual proprietorship, corporation, company, association, partnership, or husband-wife or family ownership.

— Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development