PENOBSCOT BAY PILOT • November 9, 2021
The blueberry barrens were abuzz Monday afternoon at Brodis Blueberries with a visit from Governor Janet Mills to announce the state is using $20 million in federal relief funds to directly invest in Maine’s farming communities that have been impacted by COVID-19. Ron Howard, manager of Brodis Farm said his farm had been impacted significantly. Howard said the pandemic started some positive trends for blueberries as people began eating at home and were more health-conscious. Brodis encompasses 170 acres of wild blueberries though the farm is over 800 acres in total. Mills said her administration has so far awarded $18 million in federal relief to more than 600 farms, food processors, and food banks across the state. Funds helped Brodis Blueberries build a new processing center to help sell wild blueberries to consumers.