The excessive heat experienced last May appears to have taken quite a toll on North Carolina’s blueberries. While this year’s crop may be  smaller than previous years, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says last month’s weather shouldn’t have a major impact on the quality of the fruit which thrives in the sandy soil across the Cape Fear region.

“Farmers are always at the mercy of weather, and this May was one of the hottest on record,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “But the quality of the crop is still expected to be good.”

It explains how North Carolina is the eighth-largest producer of blueberries in the nation. about 6,300 acres of blueberries are grown in the state. In 2017, blueberry production was valued at $53.8 million.