Rabbiteye blueberry cultivars can be harvested by hand or mechanical methods. Highbush cultivars have to be hand harvested. Grading of the fruit is done by hand.  The cost of planting an acre of blueberries in Florida varies widely ranging from a little over $4,400 per acre for late-ripening rabbiteye plantings when minimal land preparation is needed, to as high as $10,000 to $15,000 per acre for early-ripening southern highbush plantings with pine bark mulch, overhead irrigation for freeze protection and bird netting. This cost does not include land, clearing, barns or equipment.  Total project costs (excluding land) can range from $20,000 - $30,000 per acre.

This information was provided by the University of Florida and is dated 2003.  This example is also using non qualified amounts of pine bark and smaller starter plants.

For our recent price projections for a 10 acre farm click here.