SMALL FRUIT UPDATE | WEEK 17 |
APR 21, 2021
WHAT'S INSIDE
Tom Peerbolt
INDUSTRY RESOURCES NORTHWEST BERRY FOUNDATION
GROWER RESOURCES The major theme this week is, of course, the weather. The year-to-year variability of
this time of year has a major influence on the overall direction the season goes.
INDUSTRY NEWS This year’s warm/hot and dry stretch pushes the 2021 season in the following
ways:
PEST MANAGEMENT
Big bloom opening: Likely to have even ripening and a big first pick.
SFU SPONSORS
Pollination: Assuming the hives arrive in time, we should have great fruit set
and sizing for the earlier picks at least.
Mummy berry & botrytis pressure: This will suppress all fungal disease
infections and allows growers some options on fungicide applications in terms
of timing.
Soil moisture: Our potential for dry soils limiting plant growth and quality fruit
production is greatly increased especially if the dry weather persists.
There’s an annual personal event that happened this week. It’s that first time
Subscribe Here walking into a blueberry field being actively pollinated. Sunny, bright, warm,
fragrant, greening with that constant background buzzing. One of those great-to-
Small Fruit Update is
be-alive moments.
produced once a week
during the growing Have a good week,
season and bimonthly
outside the growing
season (Oct - Feb)
Patriot Blueberries in bloom 4-16-21 Hillsboro ,OR Photo by Tom Peerbolt.
Regional Monitoring
April 15, 2021
VIEW FULL REPORT SIGN UP HERE
REGIONAL MONITORING
Welcome to this week's SWD report. These past couple weeks have been very busy in the fields with
all the spring activities underway. The weather has also changed significantly with warm daily
temperatures (though night time temperatures have remained low, often dropping below freezing).
In the Spring, SWD populations come out of their winter dormancy. The population that survived the
winter by hunkering down are now becoming more active, thus we are starting to get a good sense
of how large the over-wintering population is. Looking at the numbers, we have seen an increase in
trap counts in most locations which reflects this expected behavior.
Location Total SWD
SAUV I E I S LAND 35
BANK S 0
FORE S T GROVE 0
CORN E L I US 52
HILL S B O RO 11
YAMH I L L 48
DUND E E 5
MCMI N N V ILLE 9
WILS O N V ILLE 5
NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 02
Blueberry Bud Development
PATR I O T BLUEJAY DUKE DRAP E R TOP S H E LF LIBE R T Y AURO R A LAST C A L L CALY P S O
WEEK 16 4/16/2021
WEEK 15 4/17/20
WEEK 15 4/12/19
WEEK 15 4/13/18
PATR I O T BLUEJAY DUKE DRAP E R TOP S H E LF LIBE R T Y AURO R A LAST C A L L CALY P S O
NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 03
Grower Resources
REGIONAL FIELD REPORTS
Western Oregon, Willamette Valley (4/20) From Julie Pond, PCM, Portland, OR:
Strawberries: Talked to a grower in the Salem area late last week and he was surprised to say that Tillamook is
looking about average for this time of year. Bloom is beginning is close to 10%.
Caneberries: An incredible amount of growth has happened in both raspberry and blackberry. Leaves went from
purple (cold soil) to lush green with laterals pushing.
Blueberries: Early season varieties are around 50% by the end of this past weekend which was fast development but
no surprise considering the weather.
Western Oregon, Willamette Valley (4/20) From Amanda Stevens, Nottinghamshire Farms:
Organic Strawberries: The field is not far off of 10% bloom . We have given this field and our Sept 2019 planted field a
dose of Kelp in March to help them recover from the February ice. Today we gave them some sodium nitrate. (photo
is below) Organic Albion planted 8/25/2020.Photo by Amanda Stevens
Eastern Washington (4/20) From Alan Schreiber, Executive Director, WA. Blueberry Commission:
Blueberries: Eastern Washington dodged the bullet from the freeze weekend before last with no reports of significant
damage. Temperatures were as low as 24 degrees. It is supposed to reach 34 degrees on Tuesday, April 20th but is
not expected to result in significant damage. After Tuesday’s low temperatures, we should be out of the woods with
regards to cold temperatures.
Northern Washington, Whatcom & Skagit Counties (4/20) From Lisa Wasko Devetter, Small Fruit Horticulturist, WSU
NWREC, Mount Vernon:
Blueberries: With the warm weather the past week/weekend, we've seen a big jump in plant development. Lots of
honey bees being moved into blueberry fields this week. So far, I have not heard of shortages of bees among
Washington growers and beekeepers. Hopefully, favorable pollination weather holds as we enter this important time.
Northern Washington, Whatcom & Skagit County (4/20) From Tom Walters, Walters Ag Research, Anacortes, WA
Blueberries are really on the move in Whatcom; leaves unfurling and individual flowers visible. I see a few hives out in
anticipation of flower opening, but so far the bees are just foraging on dandelions.
Raspberry first cane burn applications have been done, bud break looks good on the newer varieties, Meeker has not
shown very much winter injury, but has less even bud break than the others.
British Columbia, Fraser Valley (4/20) From Chuck Mouritzen, Southwest Crop Consulting, Chilliwack, BC
All crops: There is some promise of rain near the end of the week. But I hope everyone has their irrigation systems up
to snuff. It’s getting dry and this improved growth will up the demand for water.
Blueberries: What a difference a week makes! We’ve gone from a snail’s pace to early bloom after a week where
some record temps came in. Got up to 26C (78F) some days with lovely warm nights. Traveling around today Dukes
vary from 1-2% bloom but there’s lots of white bud warming up to pop if this weather continues. Northland at about
20% and Reka in early bloom as well. Lots of vegetative growth happening. We’re trying to get some pre-bloom
aphicides on before bees come in. There may be some struggles with bees this year as there is some mortality out
there and some guys may end up short.
NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 04
Industry News
FEATURED LINKS
Meet the new WSU berry plant pathologist, Chakradhar Mattupalli
READ MORE
(March, Whatcom Ag Monthly)
Results of a national stakeholder survey of the U.S. blackberry industry
READ MORE
(4/12, SRSFC)
Tips for better berry merchandising
READ MORE
(4/13, PMG)
High prices on low supplies make for a strong fresh berry market
READ MORE
(4/15, Fresh Plaza)
U.S. retail produce sales report berries with robust increases in March
READ MORE
(4/16, Fresh Fruit Portal)
Fresh market blackberries: Is developing a soft robotic gripper feasible for harvest?
READ MORE
(4/12, SRSFC)
RESEARCH
NORTH AMERICA
Maine wild blueberries: Industry singing the blues
READ MORE
(4/16, YouTube)
COMPANIES
Bee Vectoring Technologies grows in Midwest with three large berry producers
READ MORE
(4/15, Fruit Grower News)
Wish Farms opens new international headquarters in Florida
READ MORE
(4/7, Southeast Farm Press)
International Blueberry Organization to open up global blueberry market data to all
READ MORE
(4/16, Fresh Fruit Portal)
California Giant releases new foodservice edition of the Buzz newsletter
READ MORE
(4/14, Perishable News)
STRAWBERRIES
NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 05
Can strawberries slow the aging process?
READ MORE
(4/14, Western Farm Press)
Nature Fresh Farms expands strawberry acreage
READ MORE
(4/15, The Produce News)
Australia: Climate change means smaller strawberries, higher costs for farmers
READ MORE
(4/15, ABC)
POLLINATORS
B.C.: Beekeepers suffer colony losses
READ MORE
(April 7, Country Life in B.C.)
PACKAGING
Blueberry preservation pads extend the shelf life of blueberries
READ MORE
(4/15, Fresh Fruit Portal)
INDOOR GROWING
Canadian greenhouse grower expands strawberry acreage
READ MORE
(4/16, Fresh Plaza)
Tunnel Tek ‘technifies’ the field of Latin America
READ MORE
(4/16, Blueberry Consulting)
TECHNOLOGY
Western Growers launches Global Harvest Automation Initiative
READ MORE
(4/15, Western Growers)
Industry Resources
PODCASTS OF THE INDUSTRY
The Business of Blueberries: A podcast from the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council hosted by
Kasey Cronquist and Rod Cook.
FROM BEEF TO BLUEBERRIES WITH JILL SCOFIELD
PolliNation: A podcast from Oregon State University Extension Service hosted by Dr. Andony Melathopoulos.
175 - MARIE VICKSTA AND MICHAEL O' LOUGHLIN - POLLINATOR HABITAT ON COUNTY
ROADSIDES
Should farmers embrace ‘natural’ organic chemicals to replace ‘synthetic’ inputs? Moving beyond the outdated
debate
(4/19, GLP)
NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 06
Pest Management, Week 17
CLICK HERE FOR YOUR WEEKLY MUMMY BERRY UPDATE UPDATE BY DR. CHAKRADHAR MATTUPALLI OF WSU NWREC, MOUNT VERNON.
Blueberry Disease Alert: Mummy Berry
In fields with a history of mummy berry now’s the time to be into prevention mode keeping your management
program going as consistently as possible all the way through the end of bloom. We’re still in the initial infection
stage for this disease.
Mummy Berry stipes: This stage indicates the
Mummy Berry apothecia- ‘Mushroom’ stage when
apothecia will emerge if conditions are favorable.
spores are being released & can infect plant tissue
3/2/15 by Tom Peerbolt
Rose Stem Girdler (Agrilus Cuprescens) in Caneberries
Last year major economic damage was caused in a number of SW Washington and Willamette Valley blackberry and
raspberry fields by this insect. Right now the symptom that’s visible in infested fields is a distinctive gal-like swelling
usually found within the bottom two feet of a floricane (see photo). The beetle larva/pupa is inside that swelling. If
found, they should be cut out and destroyed.
The basic facts:
This is a beetle that inserts its eggs into blackberry and raspberry primocanes in the spring.
The larva feeds all season on the tissue right under the bark girdling the cane.
In the fall, it pupates and overwinters inside the cane.
It emerges as an adult in the spring (probably April & May) and continues the cycle by inserting eggs into the new
primocanes.
Management issues:
There are two basic strategies: 1) Spray insecticides to kill the adults. The problem with this is we’ve got bees in
the field at the time. 2) Cut out the infected canes and remove from the field. The problem with this is logistics &
cost.
This pest can also be masked if pruning crews just cut out the infected canes and the grower isn’t aware of why
his/her field is weakening while the pest population builds each year.
Scorch Virus in Blueberries
Vector (aphid) management (From an April, 2011 B.C. Pest Alert): “Blueberry scorch virus is transmitted by aphids. An
effective aphid control program should be used by all growers. Fields should be treated before bloom with a registered
aphicide to control the over-wintering aphids before they reproduce and disperse.”
Shock Virus in Southern Blueberries
Symptoms should be visible in many fields starting this week.
This disease is vectored by pollinators.
There is no treatment or cure.
Infected bushes generally display symptoms for one year and
then return to productivity.
NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 07
Industry Resources
GROWER RESOURCES
Maximum Residue Limits for U.S. and Major Foreign Markets
by Dani Lightle, Pesticide Registration Research Leader, Oregon State University
Strawberry Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for USA and Foreign Trade Markets - Insecticides READ MORE
Current as of: January 13, 2021
Raspberry Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for USA and Foreign Trade Markets - Insecticides
READ MORE
Current as of: December 22, 2020
Blueberry Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for USA and Foreign Trade Markets - Insecticides READ MORE
Current as of: December 4, 2020
Registered Pesticides for Oregon and Washington Berry Crops as of January 2021
Insecticide & Miticide Registrations in Oregon Caneberries – January 2021 READ MORE
Insecticide & Miticide Registrations in Oregon Blueberries – January 2021 READ MORE
Insecticide & Miticide Registrations in Washington Blueberries – January 2021 READ MORE
Recent In-depth Pesticide Series from the Genetic Literacy Project
Pesticides and food—Six part GLP Series (April 5-12)
Part 1: Has pesticide use decreased?
Part 2: Have pesticides improved?
Part 3: How dangerous is glyphosate?
Part 4: How do organic pesticides compare to synthetic pesticides?
Part 5: Soil health: When synthetic pesticides are more sustainable than ‘natural’ organics
Part 6: Pesticide residues—Something to worry about?
FEATURED RESOURCES
Announcements, Surveys, and Job Openings
Spotted wing Drosophila: State of Current Management and Recent Research (4/12, SRSFC)
May 6: Virtual Event: Farm cooperative business models get boost; virtual clinic offered (4/16, Fruit Grower News)
NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 08
Crop Management, Week 17
ALL CROPS
Weed management
Fertilizer program
Can put out monitoring traps for Spotted Wing Drosophila
BLUEBERRIES
Blueberry Gall Midge, southern blueberries. Tip damage from this midge is due to begin showing up in southern
blueberries. Damage is usually deemed to not be economic except in specific situations like new vigorous
fields where gall midge can occasionally cause too much stunting of new growth.
Azalea Bark Scale. This scale's telltale bright white egg sacs on the lower branches of infested plants are
becoming more apparent in some southern blueberry fields.
Treat for Mummy Berry as needed. You can scout for sprouting Mummy Berries on the ground but they can be
very difficult to find. Base treatment decisions on plant stage, environmental conditions and the past Mummy
Berry history of the field and surrounding fields.
Scout for Pseudomonas (Bacterial Blight) Water-soaked lesions in some fields that then develop into reddish
brown to black cankers or dead buds.
Scout for Shock virus symptoms in area fields.
Bring in bees
Winter Moth/ Bruce Span Worm: Scouting for winter moth larvae should start as soon as the buds start
swelling. More of an ongoing issue in the northern growing regions but also an occasional, locally severe
problem in some Oregon and SW Washington fields.
BLACKBERRIES
Scout for Rose Stem Girdler ‘galls’ on floricanes.
Scout for Purple Blotch lesions in Marion berries
to assess field disease levels for later
treatments.
RASPBERRIES
Burn back primocanes as needed.
(Northern areas) Scout for Clay Colored Weevil feeding and
treat as needed.
Scout for mites.
STRAWBERRIES
Can apply phosphite material.
Watch for weak growing areas and check rots
for weevil larvae, root rot and/or cold damage.
Shock Virus in Blueberries. Willamette Valley, OR ,
4/2/18. Photo by Jason Myer
NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 09
NEWSLETTERS
Whatcom Ag Monthly March Issue
Small Fruit News from the Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium (Spring Issue).
Industry Calendar
APRIL 2021
Blueberry Commission Meeting
26
ZOOM. RSVP FOR LINK BY EMAILING LISA OSTLUND LISA@OSTLUND.COM
Introduction to Beekeeping: Free Webinar
27 VISIT WEBSITE
TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2021 6:00 PM 7:30 PM. VISIT WEBSITE FOR MORE
INFORMATION.
27 Train the Trainer Food Safety Practices Remote Workshops
ENGLISH IS FROM 9 AM - NOON AND SPANISH IS FROM 1 PM - 4 PM. EMAIL
REGISTER HERE
29 MARIA.MARLIN@OREGONSTATE.EDU FOR MORE INFORMATION
MAY 2021
4 Train the Trainer Food Safety Practices Remote Workshops
ENGLISH IS FROM 9 AM - NOON AND SPANISH IS FROM 1 PM - 4 PM. EMAIL
REGISTER HERE
11 MARIA.MARLIN@OREGONSTATE.EDU FOR MORE INFORMATION
MRL Harmonization Workshop
26 VISIT WEBSITE
VISIT WEBSITE FOR AGENDA AND MORE INFORMATION
JULY 2021
Washington Blueberry Commission Meeting
07
FURTHER DETAILS COMING SOON.
NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 10
THE SMALL FRUIT UPDATE
WEEK 17 | APRIL 21, 2021
This is the sole industry publication, For more information or requests please contact:
gathering grower and producer news, and
regional field reports to unite, stabilize, and Abby Gearing,
strengthen the Northwest berry growing SFU Designer & Editor
region (Canada and US). abby@nwberries.org
Production is independent of government Tom Peerbolt,
and commercial control and made possible NBF Director & Editor
by the following commission & councils. tom@peerbolt.com.
