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Northwest Berry Foundation

Strawberry field from Dayton, OR 9/8/20 by Julie Pond

Week 37 Impacts of Wildfire Smoke Across Oregon

September 16, 2020

WHAT'S INSIDE
Regional Reports
Industry Resources
Industry News
Industry Calendar
Pest & Disease Alerts
1-5: 9/9/20 Salem, OR 2
Pest Management

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6 & 8: 9/11/20 Aurora, OR

Small Fruit Update is

produced once a week
during the growing
season and then
bimonthly outside the
growing season. 7: 9/8/20 Dayton, OR 8

Photo credit: 1-5 by Jason Myer, 6 & 8 by Javier Fernandez-Salvador, 7 by Julie Pond
 R EG I O N A L F I E L D R E P O RTS 2
WESTERN OREGON, WILLAMETTE VALLEY

• Blackberries (9/14): Primocane fruiters are into picking

with Prime arc varieties still large sized but battling the Healthy strategies for smokey skies
never ending SWD populations. No Red Berry Mite (Good Fruit Grower)
damage has been noticed yet.

• Strawberries (9/14): Lygus populations are subsiding as this is the natural time of the year, they
would be, but they have left a wake of damage in berries that are being picked through right
now. SWD is also a significant concern right now as is slugs with their feeding starting to show
up. A decent flush of bloom past the weak flush of ripe fruit over the last week. Any high tunnels
have been impacted by the heavy winds early last week. There was no way to get around that
problem. But better that than evacuation due to fires…

BRITISH COLUMBIA, FRASER VALLEY (9/14)

• Blueberries: Most ‘Elliott’ growers have finished a second pick by now. It’s been hot and dry,
which has been great for ripening up the last of this year’s crop. Plants are starting to turn
colour, with ‘Duke’ leading the way with its typical bronzing as growers cut back on irrigation.
I’ve noticed more post-harvest weed issues in blueberry fields this year, either due to shortage
on labour or to later-season weed germination resulting from the wet weather we had through
the first part of the summer.

• Raspberries: Raspberry fields look clean for the most part, and I think primocane growth
looks robust. The smoke from down south is very thick in the Fraser Valley, but this pales in
comparison to what folks are dealing with where the fires are actually burning.

BRITISH COLUMBIA, FRASER VALLEY (9/14)

• Strawberries: First year Albion seem to be pushing a new flush of fruit. Second year plants seem
to be calling it a season with decreasing picks.

First year Albion 9/14/20 by David Mutz Second year Albion 9/14/20 by David Mutz

BRITISH COLUMBIA, FRASER VALLEY (9/14) From Chuck Mouritzen, Southwest Crop Consulting,
Chilliwack, BC:

• Blueberries: The harvest end is within sight now as second picks on Aurora, Elliot and Last Call
finish up and as packers start to limit fruit intake times. Quality has dropped off with more
fruit shrivel and softness issues really reducing the volumes going to fresh. And as mentioned,
air quality realities due to smoke make field work a real challenge. Bad as it is here, we can only
imagine what our friends to the south are enduring and our thoughts are with you.
 I N D U ST RY R E S O U RC E S 3

Mark your Calendars for Winter Conferences

This year the Washington Small Fruit Conference will be held virtually.
When? December 2-4 This three-day conference focuses on the latest
research and developments in berries and other small fruits. Registration
coming soon!

Northwest Small Fruits

Research Virtual Conference
December 14-16, 2020
Hosted by the Northwest Center for Small Fruits
Details and registration coming soon! Research

Blueberries
• Subscribe to the Behind the Blue newsletter by the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council and
stay up to date on the latests news.

Register today!

Don't miss Dr. Bernadine Strik's six-week long online course from Sept. 25 through Nov. 6.

This course, offered by OSU, is designed to start with development of an in-depth knowledge of
blueberry plant physiology and how to grow a blueberry bush, boosting your understanding of
how plants will respond to weather/climate, pests, and production practices. Register today.

Podcasts for the Industry

• The Business of Blueberries: A brand new podcast brought to you by the U.S.
Highbush Blueberry Council hosted by Kasey Cronquist and Rod Cook.

• The Robots Have Arrived (9/10)

• PolliNation: A podcast from OSU Extension Service that tells the stories of bold strides
on improving pollinator health. Hosted by Dr. Andony Melathopoulos.

• Episode 151: Sarah Peebles - Resonating Bodies (August 2020)

 I N D U ST RY N E WS
The Weather Cafe®
Click here for Rufus
La Lone's longrange
forecasts for the
PNW®
Featured Links
La Nina climate pattern has developed and likely
to persist through winter—NOAA (9/15, Fresh
Fruit Portal)
B.C.: Blueberries left to compost as COVID-19 hits
B.C. ag sector (9/14, Yorkton This Week)
“North American blueberry industry needs to
innovate to become competitive” Soren Bjorn,
Driscoll’s (9/10, Fresh Plaza)
Sterile insect technology for SWD management:
Agragene announces $4 million in additional
investment for Ospraie Ag Science (9/10, PR
newswire) 3 minute video
Majority of farmers accept NORPAC settlement
(9/9, Capital Press)
Trump administration to investigate ‘threat’ of
Mexican blueberries (9/11, Modern Farmer)
Economy: The US, the main destination for
Peruvian blueberries, will evaluate impact on
domestic industry (9/8, Archyde.com)
Meetings
Inspiring speakers and program at industry-
uniting blueberry event (9/10, Fresh Fruit Portal)
Genetics
Can gene-edited crops be ‘detected’? Claims by
Greenpeace &anti-biotech activists dismissed by
safety officials, scientists (9/14, GLP)
Chambers (U.K. based company) announces huge
raspberry varietal trial with nine countries (9/15,
Fresh Fruit Portal)
Politics
Biden campaign holds roundtable with Maine
wild blueberry leaders (9/9, News Center Maine)
The West
California fires: Ash again falling on Salinas floor
with harvesting delays possible (9/11, Fresh Fruit
Portal)
4
Degree Day
Information
Click here for
Dr. Len Coop's
Northwest Degree Day
Information
B.C.: Field days feeling the pinch of social
distancing rules (9/1, Country Life in B.C.)
Chile
Water consumption monitoring tech can provide
huge savings (9/10, Fresh Fruit Portal)
Peru
Peru to export to Taiwan (9/14, Blueberry
Consulting)
China
Fresh blueberries from Zambia make entry to
China (9/14, Blueberry Consulting)
Ukraine
The Ukrainian blueberry market in 2025:
Protected growing, expansion and lowering price
(9/15, Fresh Plaza)
Markets
Preparing foodservice for what could be a harsh
winter (9/11, The Packer)
Technology
Netherlands: European company develops
blueberry harvester based on American designs
(9/14, Fresh Plaza)
Trade
ITC investigation looking at potential harm done
by imports to domestic blueberry industry (9/14,
VSC News)
Arizona: Blueberry trade dispute could affect
prices and local economy (9/8, KGUN9.com)
Companies
Ex-Driscoll’s exec sentenced for stealing from
company-report (9/14, Fresh Fruit Portal)
Hortifrut inaugurates the first floating
photovoltaic plant in Chile (9/14, Fresh Plaza)
Pollination
B.C.: Wild bees make blueberries thrive—but only
if they have a home (9/14, Coast Mountain News)
Bumblebees contribute to high-quality
blackberries (9/11, Fruit Growers News)
 I N D U ST RY C A L E N D A R 5

Columbia Star blackberry 7/2/18 by Jason Myer

TODAY: SEPT 16
Oregon Raspberry & Blackberry Commission Meeting. 9AM. This meeting will be held
through Zoom. Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/99820932936 Meeting ID: 998 2093 2936

SEPT 21
Oregon Blueberry Commission Meeting. 7:30AM. This meeting will be held through Zoom.
Please contact the commission at 503-364-2944 if you would like to attend.

SEPT 25 - NOV 6
Blueberry Physiology, Production Systems & Management Online Course.
This blueberry course led by Bernadine Strik at OSU has been very popular! Register for this 6-week long
course and read further details here.

SEPT 28 - OCT 1
NABC/USHBC Virtual Conference & Expo. 7AM-6PM. This year, the North American
Blueberry Council (NABC) and U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) are expanding their reach by going
virtual, showcasing industry leaders, tech, genetics, innovation and more! Register for free today.

OCT 26
Oregon Blueberry Commission Meeting. 7:30AM. This meeting will be held through Zoom.
Please contact the commission at 503-364-2944 if you would like to attend.

OCT 27-29
Nutrient cycling, soil health, and Food Safety Virtual Conference. Nutrient cycling
and recycling, fate and transport of nutrients across multiple landscapes of agriculture, and food safety related
to water irrigation management will be the focus of the conference. View event details here. Register for this
event here.

OCT 28
WA Red Raspberry Commission Board Meeting. 1-5PM. This meeting will be held through
Zoom. If you would like to attend, please contact the commission (henry@red-raspberry.org) and they'll send
you the meeting link.

DEC 2-4
Washington Small Fruit Conference. This conference will be held virtually this year. This
three-day conference focuses on the latest research and developments in berries and other small fruits.
Registration coming soon.

DEC 14-16
Northwest Small Fruits Research Virtual Conference. Hosted by the Northwest Center
for Small Fruits Research. Details and registration coming soon!

JAN 28-30
Pacific Agriculture Show. BC's biggest agriculture show will be held virtually in 2021. Further details
coming soon! Read initial details here.
P E ST A N D D I S E A S E A L E RTS , W E E K 37
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New Blossom Weevil

The following information comes from Carolyn Teasdale, Industry Specialist, from B.C.

A new blossom weevil, Anthonomus rubi, has recently been found in wild and low-spray
raspberry, blackberry and strawberry fields in the Fraser Valley and along the border with the
US. It’s likely that you have it in Washington fields too, so we wanted to make sure that it’s on
your radar for monitoring next year. It may have been impacting yields in some fields.

Here is what we know about it:

• The adult weevils are very small (3mm = 1/8 inch long). They lay their eggs in the flower
buds at the pre-bloom stage. The damaged flower buds don’t develop. Larvae and
pupae develop in the buds, adult weevils emerge from damaged buds. There is only one
generation per year.
• It has been found mainly in wild and unmanaged/low-spray raspberries, blackberries
and strawberries. It is not present in blueberries.
• Parasitic wasps have also been found associated with this pest in the Fraser Valley,
indicating that this pest may have been here for some time.
• Pre-bloom sprays are likely the best way to control this pest, SWD sprays will also help
keep populations low in commercial fields.

Blossom weevil damage by Eric Blossom weevil adult by Eric Blossom weevil adult by Carolyn
Gerbrandt Gerbrandt Teasdale

Spotted Wing Drosophila: Continued Pressure

SWD continues to be the greatest threat to berry crops. Continue to

monitor hotspot areas with frequent fruit sampling and treat fields that
may have leftover fruit as fields wrap up.

• A quick, 7-step guide for detecting SWD larvae in fruit

• A detailed guide for testing fruit for the presence of SWD
larvae
• Emerging Pest: SWD- A berry and stone fruit pest
SWD larvae 9/4/09
by Julie Pond
 L AT E S U M M E R P EST M A N AG E M E N T7
All Crops
• Monitor new plantings of all berries
for weeds, water, insects, diseases, and
nutrient deficiencies.
• Maintain SWD monitoring and
management plan.
• Weed Management.
• Soil and leaf testing for nutrient
evaluation. See OSU's Nutrient Mngmt
Guides for strawberries, caneberries, and
blueberries.
Strawberries
June Bearers are done. Fresh market picks
on day neutrals is ongoing and will continue
until the cold or rain stops them.
• Scout for Lygus bugs and treat as
needed.
• Scout for fruit damage symptoms
including cat facing, slug damage,
anthracnose, etc.
• Scout for root weevils, including black
vine, rough strawberry, and strawberry
root weevils.
• Scout for strawberry crown moth in
southern strawberries.
• Scout for powdery mildew and treat as
needed.
• Scout for twospotted spider mites and
predatory, beneficial mites.
• Watch for weak growing areas and check
rots for root or weevil larvae.
• Mow and renovate 2-4 weeks after
harvest unless pest pressure requires
immediate attention.
Blueberries
Late season harvest continues.
• Scout for leaf symptoms: poor growth,
nutrient deficiencies, water stress,
herbicide damage, etc & determine if
actions are needed.
• Maintain bird management as harvest
finished up.
• Scout for blueberry gall midge.
• Scout for Shock and Scorch virus.
• Scout for leafroller larvae feeding.
• Scout for weevil notching.
• Monitor for mummyberry as needed.
Caneberries
• Scout for rose stem girdler (RSG). If
fields are known to have RSG pressure
or have been recently planted, monitor
fields diligently.
Raspberries
Processed picks are done. Fresh picks on
primocane fruiting varieties are ongoing and
will continue until cold weather stops them.
• Scout for cane collapse symptoms &
determine cause such as Phytophthora
root rot, Verticillium wilt, or watering
issues.
• Scout for twospotted spider mites and
yellow mites.
• Scout for cane blight and cane botrytis.
• Scout for clay colored weevils in
northern areas.
• Scout for yellow rust and assess
treatment options.
Blackberries
Chesters and late season varieties are
harvesting and primocane fruiters are just
coming on.
• Scout for cane collapse symptoms &
determine cause such as Phytophthora
root rot, Verticillium wilt, or watering
issues.
• Scout for cane and leaf rust and assess
treatment options.
• Scout for twospotted spider mites and
yellow mites.
• Can apply fungicides to prevent fruit
molds.
• Scout for blackberry rust in Evergreen
blackberries.
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About the
Small Fruit Upate
This is the sole industry publication
gathering grower and producer
news and weekly field reports to
unite, stabilize, and strengthen the
Northwest berry growing region
(Canada and US).
Production is independent of
government and commerical control
and made possible by the following
commission & councils.
Oregon Red Raspberry 9/3/2019 by Heather Fara Click group to learn more!

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