Commercial growing and selling of fruit is an increasingly important economic and social boon to Massachusetts agriculture. Excluding the cranberry industry, the Massachusetts fruit industry's market value exceeded $58,000,000 in 2022, accounting for roughly 10% of the total market value of the state's agricultural products. After cranberries, the ten most grown fruits are, in order: apple, blueberry, peach, strawberry, grape, pear, raspberry, plum, blackberry, and nectarine. In 2022, a total of 1,438 farms grew fruit across 6,500 acres, a 17% and a 6% increase, respectively, from 2017. As part of a growing agri-tourism sector, fruit farms provide open spaces for community gathering and scenic vistas, adding to the quality of life in Massachusetts. As such, fruit farmers continue to expand their operations to meet rising consumer demand for locally sourced produce. In fact, more farmers are diversifying their crop portfolio to include new crops and new varieties.
University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst Extension leads efforts to develop and promote integrated pest management and horticultural practices to meet demands for higher yields, lower chemical inputs, and environmental sustainability. To adapt to climate change, UMass Extension continues to develop and maintain an on-farm weather monitoring network. To improve the quantity and quality of marketable fruit, UMass Extension collaborates with multi-state breeding programs toward the development of improved commercial rootstocks and fruit varieties. Ultimately, UMass Extension works with new and established growers to produce crops sustainably and to adapt to market opportunities, ensuring that fruit production remains a vital part of the Commonwealth's economy.
