1

Northwest Berry Foundation's

photo by Tom Peerbolt

WEEK 13• MARCH 27, 2019

THIS ISSUE
Recent Research
Regional Field Reports
Industry Calendar
Industry News EDITOR'S NOTE
Crop Management Tom Peerbolt
Northwest Berry Foundation

A few items to comment on for this week:

Mummyberry! We’re entering green tip stage in blueberries
in the Willamette Valley which means it’s time to begin
mummyberry prevention applications Go to page 6 for more
information.
Mummyberry and forsythia: There are a fair number of
references in East coast IPM materials about forsythia bloom
timing correlating to when to start treating for mummyberry.
Don’t know if there’s any solid research on this but it seems
something that should be checked out. What variety? Can we
plant forsythia next to a field as an indicator plant? Go here for
one of the references from the University of Connecticut.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS
NEWSLETTER Sukh Kahlon is a grower and a packer-processor based in
Abbotsford. He’s also an active member of BC blueberry
and raspberry industry associations. Sukh has started a blog
where he’s trying to raise awareness on key issues involving
NORTHWEST BERRY the BC berry community. The present posting is entitled:
FOUNDATION supports “Mega Mansion or Mega Mistake” addressing the Provincial
a sustainable NW berry government’s recent passing of Bill 52 which, among other
industry through research, things, limits the size of residences on farmland. Check it out
education, and reducing and support online forums like this that allow open exchange of
food waste. Visit our opinions and information.
website and follow our It is a perfect spring day in Portland as a write this. The Mason
facebook page to learn bees have started to emerge in the backyard. The delayed spring
more about our latest work. ornamentals are now seeming to all be coming into bloom at
once. The PCM field scouts start Thursday. Time to get out in
THE SM ALL FRUIT UPDATE fields!
is a weekly update for the Have a great week,
Northwest berry industry,
supported entirely by the Tom Peerbolt
region’s growers through
their regional berry
commissions.
 RECENT RESEARCH 2

photo by Jason Myer.

R ECENT PU BLISH ED R ESE A RCH FRO M TH E USDA’S BLU EBER RY H A RVEST

M ECH A N IZ ATI O N PROJ EC T:
Thanks to Dr Fumi Takada for passing along these links.

Microbial quality of blueberries for the fresh market (6/19, ScienceDirect)

Microbial loads on selected fresh blueberry packing lines (6/19, ScienceDirect)

Modified over-the-row machine harvesters to improve northern highbush blueberry

fresh fruit quality (1/8/19, Agriculture Journal)

Ergonomic evaluation of current advancements in blueberry harvesting (11/17/18,

Agronomy Journal)

R ECENT PU BLISH ED R ESE A RCH O N USI N G UV I R R A D I ATI O N FO R D ISE A SE

A N D M ITE CO NTRO L IN STR AWBER R I ES:
Thanks to Dr Fumi Takada for passing along these links.

A new approach to strawberry disease control (3/13, European Journal of Hort Sciences)

UV-C irradiation as a management tool for two-spotted spider mite on strawberries

(4/24/18, Wiley Online Library)
 REGIONAL FIELD REPORTS 3

SPECIAL OREGON STR AWBERRY COM MISSION MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

Discussion about the future of the Oregon Strawberry Commission (OSC).
April 1, 2019. 6:30 PM. North Willamette Research & Extension Center (15210 NE Miley Rd. Aurora, OR).
Go here for background information and further details.

photo by Tom Peerbolt

FR ASER VALLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA 3 -24-19. From Eric Gerbrandt, Research Director BCBC/
RIDC/BCSGA
Blueberries: In early February, I made some comments about the potential for some
winter damage in some new varieties of blueberry. A month and a half later, after our
late-winter cold spell turned late-winter heat wave, there’s definitely some damage in
my three-year-old planting of ‘Last Call’, ‘Top Shelf ’ and ‘Cargo’ but little to none in
plants of ‘Duke’, ‘Draper’ and Valor™ of the same age. This damage is most severe in
the weaker plants and on the weaker wood on otherwise healthy plants, which would be
expected since these buds would have developed more in late January prior to the big
freeze. Fortunately, this damage was easily pruned off of these young plants and I don’t
think we’re likely to see regular, significant damage in more mature plantings. However,
a survey of five-year-old variety trial plantings throughout the Fraser Valley in a couple
weeks may modify this first read on the situation.
Raspberries: Early varieties are really budding out quickly in the recent heat. Also,
primocanes started to emerge around a week ago (March 17-18ish). I think we’ve yet to see
the full extent of the cold damage and what that will mean for growers.
Strawberries: Starting to see some movement in ‘Albion’ crowns in the last couple of days.

FR ASER VALLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA 3-24-19

Plenty of advancement in blueberries has occurred in the past week. Looks like the first
mummyberry sprays will go on by this coming mid-week. Some fertilizer is on and weed
control continues. Still not seeing a lot of winter damage my way. But there have been
some reports by others of some floral damage appearing. Still some pruning going on out
there too.
Raspberries are starting to advance this week especially Chemainus. Meekers are slow
and there are some pretty winter damaged fields. Some serious evaluation of what to do
in some of these fields has to be taken.
 BLUEBERRY BUD DEVELOPMENT 4

Willamette Valley, Oregon

Photos are from same fields on close to the same day from each year

PATRIOT BLUEJAY DUKE DR APER TOP SHELF LIBERTY AUROR A L AST C ALL

WEEK 12 3-21-19

WEEK 12,3-23-18

WEEK 12, 3-24 -17

WEEK 12,3-25-16

PATRIOT BLUEJAY DUKE DR APER TOP SHELF LIBERTY AUROR A L AST C ALL
 INDUSTRY C ALENDAR 5

VISIT TH E WE ATH E R C A FE ®
Go here for Rufus La Lone's uniquely informative long-range
forecasts for the PNW.®

photo by Tom Peerbolt

M ARCH 25 -27, 2019: GLOBAL BERRY CONGRESS Rotterdam, Netherlands. Go here for
more information & registration.
APRIL 1, 2019: SPECIAL OREGON STR AWBERRY COMMISSION MEETING. Discussion about
the future of the Oregon Strawberry Commission (OSC). April 1, 2019. 6:30 PM. North Willamette Research &
Extension Center (15210 NE Miley Rd. Aurora, OR). Go here for background information and further details.
APRIL 3, 2019: OREGON R ASPBERRY AND BL ACKBERRY COMMISSION MEETING 10:30
AM - 2:30 PM. Hayden's Lakefront Grill (8187 Southwest Tualatin-Sherwood Road Tualatin, OR,
97062)
APRIL 17, 2019: WASHINGTON RED R ASPBERRY COMMISSION MEETING 1 PM - 5:00 PM at
WRRC office (204 Hawley Street Lynden, WA)
APRIL 19, 2019: WASHINGTON BLUEBERRY COMMISSION MEETING 11:00 AM at
Steakhouse 9 (115 E Homestead Blvd Ste A Lynden, WA 99264) For more information, contact
Alan Schreiber at (509) 266-4303 or aschreib@centurytel.net.
APRIL 22, 2019: OREGON BLUEBERRY COMMISSION MEETING (BUDGET HEARING) noon
at Chemeketa Events at Winema, Building 48, Room 210 ( 4001 Winema Pl NE, Salem, OR 97305).
Contact Lisa Ostlund for more information.
M AY 7 -9, 2019: BERRY HEALTH BENEFITS SYMPOSIUM Portland, OR, Contact Darcy
Kochis for more information. Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Downtown (319 SW Pine Street,
Portland, OR 97204). Go here for more information and registration.

SEE THE FULL INDUSTRY C ALENDAR ON WWW.NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG/C ALENDAR

 INDUSTRY NEWS 6

photo by Jason Myer.

H I G H LI G HTS
Record 2018 blueberry crop plants Oregon
in No. 1 spot (3/19, Good Fruit Grower)
EWG releases 2019 ‘dirty dozen’, ‘clean
fifteen’ lists (3/20, The Packer) Industry
continues to push back on ‘Dirty Dozen’
(3/22, The Packer)
U.S. organic blueberry imports soar higher
(3/19, The Packer)
FDA starts on-farm inspections in Oregon
(3/22, Capital Press)
Mexican berry campaign running well
ahead of schedule (3/26, Fresh Fruit Portal)
BR EED I N G
Driscoll’s alleges ‘patent infringement’ by
California Berry Cultivars (3/21, Vegetable
Growers News)
TR A D E
U.S. strawberry imports on the rise (3/22,
The Packer)
Temporary supply gap for imported
raspberries (3/20, Fresh Plaza)
TECH N O LO GY
New technology explores pollination
automation (3/21, Good Fruit Grower)
PO LLI N ATI O N/BEES
Researchers look to fungi to help keep
honeybees healthy (3/21, Good Fruit
Grower)
Orchardists testing bee-attractant paste
(3/21, Good Fruit Grower)
I NTER N ATI O N A L
Hill start gets India’s blueberry market
moving (3/19, Fruitnet)
R ESE A RCH
Study aims to protect parasitoids of spotted
wing drosophila (3/18, Fruit Grower News)
WE ATH ER /WATER
Spring work delayed for E. Washington
farmers (3/25, Capital Press)

CO M PA N I ES
Organically Grown Co. moves to a new
ownership model (3/22, The Packer)

TH E WEST
Rain won’t dampen Oxnard spring
strawberry season (3/22, Fresh Plaza)
 CROP M A N AGE M ENT, WEEK 13 7

NUTRIENT M ANAGEMENT
We're getting into a traditional time for
applying fertilizer. Many growers still
apply the first blueberry application just
before the buds break. Research has
shown that the plant takes up very little
nitrogen before late April. Recommended
timing for split applications in the
Willamette Valley is 1/3 in late April, 1/3
in mid-May and 1/3 in mid-June.
• OSU’s “Nutrient Management in
Blueberries”
• OSU’s “Nutrient Management Guide
for Caneberries”

Pseudomonas syringae (bacterial canker) symptoms in blueberries

ALL CROPS
• Weed management.
• Scout for and plan for Voles: Vole activity is apparent in many blueberry, caneberry, and
strawberry fields. Management of voles is most effective in the spring before they start multiplying
like…voles. Kind of like weeds ( & starlings)—get them before their reproduction cycle kicks in!

BLUEBERRIES

• Disease Alert: Mummyberry. Throughout the

Northwest we’re close to fields being vulnerable to
infections. Be ready with a management program by
the time fields at risk reach ‘green tip stage’. That’s
when new infections can begin. So, what is "green tip
stage"? Click here for a chart from Michigan State of the
various stages of blueberry growth development. See
also: Mummyberry primer from Michigan State.
Some critical points:
• The optimum temperature for spore release and
infection is 50 to 57ºF (10 to 14ºC). Figure on when
temperatures go over 45F in our area you’re into the
Mummyberry stipes -Stage indicating
danger zone.
the apothecia will emerge if conditions
• At least 12 hours of wetness is required for infection. are right.

• Scout for Pseudomonas (Bacterial Canker) Water-soaked lesions usually appear in February in
some fields that then develop into reddish brown to black cankers. See Northwest Berry Foundation
Research Update on bacterial blight first posted on 1/3/13.
• Plan for Bird issues & Starling management: Right now starlings are beginning to fledge.
Population control becomes very difficult later into the season because they multiply rapidly.
- European starlings and their control (Cornell University)
• Winter Moth/ Bruce Span Worm: Scouting for winter moth larvae should start as soon as the buds
start swelling. We’ve had reports in previous years of problems beginning this early but it’s usually in
a couple of weeks. More of an ongoing issue in the northern growing regions but also an occasional,
locally severe problem in some Oregon and SW Washington fields.
• Scale Insects: A dormant oil or Esteem (pyriproxyfen) can be used while blueberries are dormant.
 CROP M A N AGE M ENT, WEEK 13 8
R ASPBERRIES
Raspberry Crown Borer If you've had borer problems in the past, March is the time to drench for
crown borer management in caneberries.
Cane Blight: A good time to spot symptoms of cane blight is as the buds break. Infected canes will
show either no bud break if the cane has been girdled or one-sided bud break if the infection is on
one side. Scrape canes to look for rust colored streaks usually coming up from machine harvester
scars. There is no treatment for cane blight once it’s present, only prevention. The time to prevent
next year's canes from getting infected is to apply an appropriate fungicide immediately after
harvest when fresh wounds normally become infected.
Phytophthora Root Rot: March is the time to use a fungicide drench in raspberries. Warm,
saturated soils are the conditions that favor this organism, allowing it to spread quickly.

BLACKBERRIES
Raspberry Crown Borer If you've had borer problems
in the past, March is the time to drench for crown borer
management in caneberries.
Redberry Mite (evergreen blackberries): Dormant sprays
of lime/sulfur or elemental sulfur for Blackberry Rust
and Redberry Mite are recommended in March.
Purple Blotch (blackberries): Check for cane lesions that
are easy to see as the weather warms but the foliage has
not yet emerged. It’s a good time to assess disease level.
Blackberry Rust (Phragmidium Rust) (Evergreen
blackberries): Dormant spray of lime/sulfur or elemental
sulfur for Blackberry Rust and Redberry Mites is
recommended in March to prevent later problems.

STR AWBERRIES
Clay Colored Weevils (southern strawberries): This
early emerging species is usually just considered a pest
of raspberries in northern growing areas where it feeds
on newly emerging shoots and buds. But in the last few
years emerged adult Clay Colored Weevils have been
recovered from SW Washington southern strawberry
fields and blueberry fields.
Purple blotch in blackberries

L ATE WINTER / E A R LY SPR I N G WE ATH ER R ISK I N FO R M ATI O N

Check this chart of Blueberry growth stages and critical spring temperatures
(Michigan State Extension). The relevant stages & temperature thresholds from
the chart:
• Bud Swell: “Visible swelling of buds; scales separated. Can tolerate 10-15 F (-12 to -9 C)”.
• Tight cluster: “Individual flowers distinguishable. Can tolerate 20-23 F (-7 to -5 C)”.

Other early spring weather management information links:

• (blueberries) Using your sprinkler system to protect blueberries from freezes
• (All berries) Frost protection: Tips & techniques
• (blueberries) Frost & Freeze protection: Blueberries
 9
THE
SM A LL FRUIT UPDATE
IS SPONSOR ED
BY THE R EGION'S
BER RY COM M ISSIONS
& COUNCILS

LE ARN MORE | JOIN THE SFU M AILING LIST | ARCHIVES