1

Northwest Berry Foundation

Fruit load by Julie Pond 8/12/2019

Week 33
August 14, 2019
TOM PEERBOLT
Northwest Berry Foundation

THIS ISSUE
This week’s Update is a bit abbreviated in that I’ve pulled the
Field Reports ‘Pests & Diseases’ and the ‘Crop Management’ segments. They
are in great need of a major overhaul.
Industry Calendar
In the meantime, see the B.C. Blueberry and Raspberry IPM
Industry News newsletters linked in the field reports section. E.S. Cropconsult
does a great job collaborating closely with the B.C. Blueberry
Council, the Raspberry Industry Development Council and various
other public agencies to keep their growers well informed on field
SUBSCRIBE conditions and the options grower have available for managing
the various pests and diseases. B.C. management chemistries
differ some, as do their product names, so if you’re south of the
border keep that in mind.
Stay with SWD management plans. The later in the season we go
with these mild conditions, the greater the risk of infestation gets.

Tom

Northwest Berry Foun-

dation is a 501c3 with
the mission to support a
more sustainable North-
western berry industry.
 R EG I O N A L F I E L D R E P O RTS 2
FRASER VALLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Saturday Aug 10th
Eric Gerbrandt, Research Director, BCBC/RIDC/CSGA
BC finally had a really nice hot few days this summer, but it’s cooled down again (Aug 8-9) and now is going to
drizzle for the next 48 hours (Aug 10-12).

Blueberries: First pick of Elliotts is just starting now, so hopefully the rain isn’t enough to cause a wave of
splitting. We too are over the peak in blueberries, and it will be mostly ‘Liberty’ and the late season cultivars
left to pick after the end of next week.

Click here for BC

Blueberry Council's
Latest field report

Monday August 12th

Blueberries: A rainy weekend has hampered the fresh pick here. Most of the first pick Liberty is in now.
Some fields with a good second pick showing but in a lot of fields size is an issue. First pick Elliot started
last week and more fields are opening up this week. I haven't had any split fruit reports as a result of the
weekend rain. Some Aurora's will pick later this week as well. Last Call showing more and more colour.
Really a lack of significant fresh volumes the last little while. Forecasted mild weather should maintain the
fruit quality but, for now, we could do without the frequent precipitation which has been an unusual char-
acteristic of this year's harvest period.

Raspberries: Seeing some raspberry fields starting to be pulled out now. And I don't think re-plant is on
their minds.

WASHINGTON
Friday August 9th
Lisa Wasko, Lead Small Fruit Researcher, WSU-NWREC Mount Vernon

Blueberries: We have ended our harvest trials in 'WakeHaven' this week and expect a few more picks in
'WakeField'. I think 'Meeker' is almost done for most growers in Whatcom, if not done already. For blueberries,
'Liberty' has started to be picked in Skagit and Whatcom, while eastern Washington is onto 'Aurora' and other
late season cultivars. The cooler weather has lead to some firmer fruit in both regions compared to last year.
We'll be continuing on some blueberry machine harvest trials in Whatcom this coming week with visiting sci-
entists and collaborator Dr. Fumi Takeda with USDA-ARS. Let's hope the cooler weather continues, as it's been
great for picking fresh market fruit

Raspberries: The peak and overlap in raspberry and blueberry harvesting has started to wind down, which
gives my research program a little sigh of relief.
 R EG I O N A L F I E L D R E P O RTS 3

WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OREGON

Monday Aug 12th
Bernadine Strik, Lead Berry Crops Researcher OSU-NWREC

Blackberries & Raspberries: We are thick into fresh market blackberries (semi-erect types and hybrids)
and primocane-fruiting raspberries; quality looks good but SWD pressure is high.

Blueberries: In blueberry, we will be finishing up ‘Liberty’ and ‘Legacy’ (younger plants) harvest this week.
We had first harvest of ‘Elliott’ late last week. Quality looks good. This weather has been good for berry
development, including reducing heat-related fruit quality issues, but good SWD management has been
important.

Strawberries: Harvest of day-neutral strawberry is going strong, as weather has been good for flower bud
development and berry sizing (not too hot).

Monday Aug 12th

Blueberries: We’re certainly on our way to the
biggest ever overall blueberry crop totals. That would
seem to be true for all regions. ‘Aurora’, ‘Last Call’
and ‘Elliott’ are the main cultivars now being har-
vested. ‘Legacy’, ‘Liberty’ still on later picks. Weird
weather and temperature patterns are negatively
influencing fruit quality. ‘ In general, it’d be great to
have firmer fruit that would ship easier across the
board. Just heard some thunder…we’re presently
getting these passing, very light showers and 80
temps. Very high humidity. Also, of course, concerned
about SWD in this weather. One missed application
could lead to a big loss but so far outbreaks have
been limited. Don’t know how the smaller, fresh
market guys are doing though.

Strawberries: The Willamette Valley day neutral

harvests have been impacted by the sporadic rains
we've been having. Random rain events and residual
humidity means fruit is unable to dry causing rotted,
cracked and rain damaged berries. Botrytis inocu-
lum loads are heavy in the fields. It's really too bad
Impact of high
humidy and sporadic because the fruit load looks fantastic if growers can
rain, Julie Pond keep up with Lygus bug and SWD management in
8/12/2019 addition to this fungal pressure.
 I N D U ST RY C A L E N D A R 4
AVAILABLE NOW
Organic Farming Research Foundation, Organic soils health
Management Free online video training program with link to courses here.
SEPTEMBER 4
washington red raspberry commission meeting 1pm - 5pm. 204 Hawley St.,
Lynden, WA.

SEPTEMBER 10
OREGON raspberry & BLACKBERRY commission meeting 10:30am - 2:30pm.
Hayden's Lakefront Grill, 8187 SW Tualatin-Sherwood Rd, Tualatin, OR 97062.

SEPTEMBER 25
OREGON Strawberry commission meeting . 6-8:30pm. McMenamins Hotel Oregon
310 Northeast Evans Street McMinnville, OR, 97128

SEPTEMBER 27 - NOVEMBER 10
Blueberry Physiology, Production Systems, & ManagemenT 6-week OSU
online course taught by Bernadine Strik. Click here to register.

OCTOBER 17-18
Raspberry & Blueberry Research Reviews 10am - 4pm.at Mt Vernon WSU. Email
Alan Schrieber for more information.

OCTOBER 30
washington red raspberry commission board meeting 1pm - 5pm. 204
Hawley St., Lynden, WA.

DECEMBER 2-3
Northwest Center for Small Fruits research Annual Conference
Agenda is firming up and we have a packed day of research presentations! Save the date!

DECEMBER 4-6
Small Fruit Conference & Lynden Ag Show Click here to register now!
DECEMBER 5
Washington Red Raspberry Commission Annual Meeting 8:00 AM , 204
Hawley St. Lynden, WA
 I N D U ST RY N E WS 5
Highlight North America
Washington State: Blueberry season half over. Feds Mexican berry producers explore the Chinese
say growers must pay pickers 50% more (8/10, Tri- market (8/8, Fresh Plaza)
City Herald)
South America
El Nino; winter outlook uncertain (8/8, Capital Argentine blueberries: Country will be “niche”
Press) player in future (8/8, Fresh Fruit Portal)

New Jersey blueberry farms house workers
in storage sheds, pollute groundwater(8/8,
Philadelphia Inquirer)
The response: New Jersey official touts blueberry
safety (8/8, The Packer)
China trade standstill ‘more bad news for farmers’
(8/6, Fruit Grower News)
Trade
Farm equipment maker Deere’s dealers hit hard by
trade war (8/9, Fresh Fruit Portal)
U.S. and China up the ante again in trade war (8/9,
The Packer)
South African blueberry industry, reliant on
exports to UK, forecasts soaring growth (8/5,
Produce Business UK)
Market place
More consolidation’s on the way (8/9, The Packer)
Argentina’s blueberry harvest begins with good
expectations (8/8, Fresh Plaza)
Companies
Always Fresh Farms, Giddings Fruit to offer
52-week berry supply to North American market
(8/9, Fresh Fruit Portal)
Pesticides
EPA sued for not banning Chlorpyrifos (8/7,
Growing Produce)
Europe
Blueberry cultivation increasingly popular in
Poland (8/9, Fresh Plaza)
British blueberries have had an excellent growing
season (8/12, Fresh Plaza)
Regional land grant universities
OSU’s research center tries to solve the mysteries of
agriculture (8/6, Wilsonville Spokesman) Good luck

What have small fruit researchers in Washington,

Idaho, Oregon, and the USDA-ARS been doing?

NCSFR ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Dec 2-3 2019
Silver Reef Resort Regis
tration
Ferndale, WA comi
ng so
on

Come learn and shape the future of research to support sus-

tainable small fruit production. Join regional boards, com-
missions, committees, councils, and researchers for keynote
speakers, presentations of new research in grape and berry
production, research priority setting, wine tasings, and more!
 6
SMALL FRUIT UPDATE
IS SPONSORED BY
THE REGION'S BERRY
COMMISSIONS &
COUNCILS

Learn More | Join the SFU news | Archives