McKay’s Wild Blueberries Rebuilds with Community Support

In late March 2024, McKay’s Wild Blueberries in Pennfield, New Brunswick, faced a devastating blow. An electrical fire tore through their machinery shed and storage barn, leaving the heart of their 30-year-old operation in ashes. But what could have been the end of an era quickly turned into a testament to the strength of their community and the land that sustains them.

“Everything in our well-equipped machine shop burned to the ground—welding equipment, band saws, all gone,” said Graeme Weir, the owner of McKay’s Wild Blueberries. “It was a huge loss, but the way our community rallied around us was incredible.”

Weir, whose family has owned McKay’s since 1995, has seen the wild blueberry industry in New Brunswick grow and thrive over the decades.

“We’ve seen blueberries go from a provincial average of 1,200 pounds an acre to 4,000 or more,” Weir shared. “The knowledge about blueberry production has certainly grown, and New Brunswick is perfect for it — not just because of the land, but because of the people who live here.”

The fire struck just as McKay’s was gearing up for the season. “We were getting ready to tune up our equipment when it happened. We lost all our spare parts, our harvesters, and mowers. But the support we received—neighbors offering tools, someone starting a GoFundMe—was truly heartening,” Weir said. “It’s nice to know that even though we’re just a little outbuilding on the side of the road, we have a spot in people’s hearts.”

Weir also credits the local fire department and a neighbor for preventing the fire from spreading further. “It could have been a lot worse. The fire department saved our big building next to it, and we’re thankful for that,” he noted.

Today, with the help of their resilient team and a supportive community, McKay’s is back on its feet. “We’ve got some troopers here working for us, and we’re going to do what we can to keep going,” Weir said with determination.

New Brunswick isn’t just where wild blueberries grow; it’s where they thrive, nurtured by both the land and the community. As McKay’s Wild Blueberry continues its legacy, it’s clear that the roots run deep in more ways than one.

“It’s a down-to-earth business,” Weir reflected. “And this place, with these people, is exactly where we’re meant to be.”