SMALL FRUIT UPDATE | WEEK 14 |  

APR 01, 2021

Cranes over raspberry field photo by Tom Peerbolt

Tom Peerbolt
WHAT'S INSIDE
NORTHWEST BERRY FOUNDATION

INDUSTRY RESOURCES
Since there's been a lot of pandemic coverage, I’ve limited the amount of coverage in
the SFU. However, as we’re at the start of the field season and vaccinations are now
GROWER RESOURCES
available, I figured it was time to support the effort to accelerate getting our workers
and families vaccinated.
INDUSTRY NEWS

Stay safe,
PEST MANAGEMENT

SFU SPONSORS

General Vaccination News

Farmworkers are getting vaccinated across the west (3/30, Capital Press)
USDA establishing new programs, efforts to bring financial assistance to farmers
(3/24, Fruit Grower News)

Washington
States 1st federal mass vaccination site opens in Yakima (3/31, Seattle Times)
Health officials race to vaccinate farmworkers (3/17, Seattle Times)
Washington farmworker vaccinations have begun (3/18, Good Fruit Grower)
Subscribe Here COVID-19 positivity rate low for incoming Washington farmworkers (3/23, Good
Fruit Grower)
Small Fruit Update is
produced once a week Oregon
during the growing What you need to know about COVID-19 vaccines in Oregon (3/31, KGW8)
season and bimonthly Physician leads mobile testing, vaccinations for farmworkers (3/31, Capital Press)
outside the growing
season (Oct - Feb) British Columbia
Prioritizing migrant farm workers for COVID-19 vaccinations (3/3, Farms.com)
Undocumented workers in Canada fear deportation if they got COVID-19 vaccine
(3/26, Global News)
Grower Resources

REGIONAL FIELD REPORTS

Western Oregon, Willamette Valley

Blueberries: (3/29) From Tom Peerbolt, Peerbolt Crop Management, Portland, OR
Interesting year. I’m sure these kinds of conditions can’t be too rare since there’s good, ‘normal’, plant
development. But the blueberry development seems to be unusually consistent. When I get the weekly
blueberry variety comparison samples I generally need to spend a little time and effort to find the best ‘typical’
examples. Yesterday, I could just walk into the field, regardless of variety, and bud development was so regular
that I had no major issues selecting the samples. It’s too early in the season to read too much into it but it
would indicate a higher-than-normal possibility of a heavy first bloom. If we get heat of any consequence in the
next week or two we could see growers scrambling to get bees in.

All Crops: (3/29) From Tom Peerbolt, Peerbolt Crop Management, Portland, OR
While night temp lows continue in the mid to high 30s y temps are now working into the 60’s. Pretty nice
although some talk about the fairly dry March. Time to make sure the irrigation systems are in shape as we’re
moving steadily toward bloom. I need to check out more caneberry and strawberry fields this week. See if
they’re following a similar development pattern.

Strawberries : (3/31) From Julie Pond, Peerbolt Crop Management, Portland, OR

June bearers in general look really late even for early April. Fruit spurs are all tight in the crown still, so pretty
late in comparison to other recent years. Late summer 2020 plantings of Albion look a bit patchy. Fruit spurs
are just starting to emerge - about an inch out. Very occasional blooms with some being hit with typical light
frosty mornings.

Strawberries: (3/31), Peerbolt Crop Management

June bearers in general look really late even for early April. Fruit spurs are all tight in the crown still, so pretty
late in comparison to other recent years.

Late summer 2020 plantings of Albion look a bit patchy. Fruit spurs are just starting to emerge - about an inch
out. Very occasional blooms with some being hit with typical light frosty mornings.

Green Lacewing adult.

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 02
Grower Resources

British Columbia, Fraser Valley (3/28) From Jason Smith, Fraser Valley, BC
Blueberries: We have been having pretty decent weather for the most part although we are expecting heavy
rain today (Sunday) with some saying up to 40 mm and there is a storm wind warning. Then back to sunshine
for a few days then a week of rain. Hopefully not too much water to fall over that week. Plants are moving
along although slowly. First mummy berry control applications have gone on or will be over the next few days.
Still a lot of fields / varieties that aren't quite there yet. No spanworm observed yet. Seems to me we are about
5-7 days behind last year at this point. Fruit bud development doesn't appear to be as good in some fields or
varieties as I would have expected given the lighter crop last year.

British Columbia, Fraser Valley (3/28) From Eric Gerbrandt, Research Director BCBC/RIDC/BCSGA
All crops: It’s been quite cool with precipitation on and off for the last couple of weeks now. Last Friday, parts
of the Fraser Valley had a sudden dump of close to an inch of hail/snow that was rapidly followed by 12 degree
C weather. Wet weather has slowed some field prep, and much of the labour force for wrapping up pruning is
MIA from what I’ve heard.

Blueberries: Bud development has been slow in this cool weather. Some of the earliest cultivars are entering
early pink bud but most are still back at tight cluster.

Raspberries: I haven’t been out to see any commercial fields, but from what I have on my farm, I think laterals
range from 1-3 inches at this stage? Some primocanes starting to emerge.

Northern Washington, Whatcom & Skagit County (3/31) From Tom Walters, Walters Ag Research,
Anacortes, WA
Blueberries: Lots of Mummy berry sprays going out in this good weather. Many fields are in early green tip
stage, just right for first mummy berry applications. Budbreak is very even in the fields I’ve seen, as well.

Bombus vosnesenskii - Yellow-faced Bumblebee Queen foraging in Oregon blooms. March 27, 2021 by David Pond

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 03
 Pest Management, Week 14

CLICK HERE FOR WEEKLY MUMMY BERRY STATUS REPORT FOR NORTHERN WASHINGTON

Blueberry Disease Alert: Mummy Berry

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.
What is the "green tip stage"? Click here for a chart from Michigan State of the various stages of blueberry
growth development.

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 danger zone.
At least 12 hours of wetness is required for infection.

Mummy Berry stipes: This stage indicates the apothecia will Mummy Berry apothecia- ‘Mushroom’ stage when spores are
emerge if conditions are favorable. 3/2/15 by Tom Peerbolt being released & can infect plant tissue

Nutrient Management

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 for Blueberries in Oregon"

OSU's "Caneberries Nutrient Management Guide"
OSU's "Strawberry Nutrient Management Guide for Oregon and Washington"

In most years, activities involving the management of the following pests happen during March. They're
associated with the warming temperatures and renewed plant growth.

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 04
March Pest Management

LATE WINTER/EARLY SPRING WEATHER RISKS

Pictorial blueberry growth stages with temperature damage thresholds:

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)”.

Early spring weather management information:

Using your sprinkler system to protect blueberries from freezes (Eric Hansen, Michigan State Small Fruit Specialist)
(All berries) Frost protection: Tips & Techniques (Kathy Demchek, Penn State)
Frost & freeze protection: Blueberries (www.eXtension.org)

INSECTS AND MITES

Raspberry Crown Borer: (caneberries): If you've had borer problems in the past, March is the time to drench for crown
borer management in caneberries.
Strawberry Crown Moth: (southern caneberries): In Oregon and Southwest Washington, this borer looks to do as much,
if not more, damage in caneberries as the Raspberry Crown Borer. The treatment is the same as for RCB- a spring (or
fall) insecticide drench.
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.
Redberry Mite: (evergreen blackberries): Dormant sprays of lime/sulfur or elemental sulfur for Blackberry Rust and
Redberry Mite are recommended in March.

DISEASES
Phytophthora Root Rot: (raspberries): 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.
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.
Cane Blight: (raspberries): 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.
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.

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 05
Regional Monitoring

March 30, 2021

VIEW FULL REPORT SIGN UP HERE

REGIONAL MONITORING
This week we are reporting on a substantially expanded trapping network. Additional traps have been placed
(with more coming in future weeks) so that now this population monitoring network extends into 8 counties in
Oregon. The wider geographic distribution should reach a large majority of small fruit growers within the
Willamette Valley. For those of you who look at this data and don't see a location reflective of where you
operate, fear not, we hope to be able to reach your area in the not-too-distant future. In the coming weeks, we
will be putting together more informational resources and descriptions of each of the trapping sites for context,
but the general rule for this trapping network remains the same across the expanded region where trapping
sites are located in non-crop border habitats adjacent to farms where SWD take refuge.

Location Total SWD

SAUV I E I S LAND 2

BANK S 0

FORE S T GROVE 4

CORN E L I US 0

HILL S B O RO 1

YAMH I L L 31

DUND E E 0

MCMI N N V ILLE 1

WILS O N V ILLE 5

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 06
 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 13 3/26/21
WEEK 13 4/3/20
WEEK 13 3/29/19
WEEK 13 3/30/18

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 07
Industry Resources

FEATURED RESOURCES
Announcements, Surveys, and Job Openings

Registered Pesticides for Oregon and Washington Berry Crops as of January 2021
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

Maximum Residue Limits for U.S. and major foreign markets

Insecticide & Miticide Registrations in Oregon Blueberries – January 2021 READ MORE

Insecticide & Miticide Registrations in Washington Blueberries – January 2021 READ MORE

Insecticide & Miticide Registrations in Oregon Caneberries – January 2021 READ MORE

2021 Request for Applications NCSFR

The Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research (NCSFR) has released the Request for
Applications (RFA) for 2021 available here. All applications must be submitted online by April 1st, 2021 5pm
PDT. If you have any questions, contact the Northwest Berry Foundation at info@nwberries.org.

VIEW 2021 RFA

Do you use biocontrol? Do you want to use biocontrol?

ODA wants to hear from you! Oregon Department of Agriculture and Oregon IPM Center have created a
survey of grower and commodity groups to understand use, perception, and needs for biological control in
the state. This information will be used to help shape the direction of ODA’s arthropod biological control
program to best aid growers. The survey takes about five minutes or less and responses are anonymous.

ODA Survey

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 08
Industry News

FOR GROWER RESOURCES:

A pictorial Guide to Hedgerow Plants for Beneficial Insects
READ MORE
(ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture)

Boosting insect diversity may provide more consistent crop pollination services
READ MORE
(3/17, University of Reading)

FEATURED LINKS
Blueberry decline: Imports, USITC contribute to Florida’s dwindling industry
READ MORE
(3/25, VSC News). Related article:

Another challenging season for Florida’s blueberry producers

READ MORE
(3/26, VSC News)

Logistics and climate are main challenges facing southern hemisphere blueberry exports
READ MORE
(3/30, Blueberry Consulting)

Indoor, vertical farming of blueberries and caneberries: Hortifrut & AeroFarms form research
partnership READ MORE

(3/30, The Packer)

Biden’s infrastructure plan should hit several needs of ag sector

READ MORE
(3/31, Brownfield Ag News)

The future’s bright for California strawberries

READ MORE
(3/25, The Packer)

PESTICIDES
Opinion: Skeptical of pesticides? That’s because you don’t know what life is like without them
READ MORE
(3/26, GLP)

PACKAGING
‘New sustainable blueberry packaging’ READ MORE
(3/30, Fresh Plaza)

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 09
SOUTH AMERICA
Peruvian exports of blueberries showed an increase of 23.4% in 2020
READ MORE
(3/30, Blueberry Consulting)

NORTH AMERICA
Florida blueberries begin season with higher prices than last two years
READ MORE
(3/30, Agronometrics)

Georgia blueberries: Crop not projected to be early this year

READ MORE
(3/18, VSC News)

Good crops but later starts on blueberries from Georgia and Florida
READ MORE
(3/31, Fresh Plaza)

LABOR
Ag Labor case reaches the Supreme Court – Here’s what you need to know
READ MORE
(3/24, Fresh Plaza)

Oregon: Phased approach doesn’t dim opposition to overtime bill

READ MORE
(3/31, Capital Press)

Washington: House panel rejects key OT bill amendment

READ MORE
(3/26, Capital Press)

MARKETING
California Strawberry Commission reaches consumers through Ibotta app
READ MORE
(3/30/ The Packer)

California strawberry marketers adjust tactics amid pandemic

READ MORE
(3/30/ The Packer)

VARIETY DEVELOPMENT
Southern Highbush: There’s a new Sentinel in town: It’s a bit acidic, a bit sweet, and
apparently ‘berry good’ READ MORE

(3/30, The Sun Sentinel)

With start of Florida blueberry season comes new UF/IFAS variety

READ MORE
(3/30, Morning Ag Clips)

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 10
COMPANIES
Sun World to be acquired by private equity group Bridgepoint
READ MORE
(3/31, Fresh Fruit Portal)

Hortifrut profit soars in 2020

READ MORE
(3/31, Fresh Fruit Portal)

PODCASTS OF THE INDUSTRY

The Business of Blueberries: A podcast from the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council
hosted by Kasey Cronquist and Rod Cook.
A CONVERSATION WITH CINDY JEWELL AND JEFF CADY

PolliNation: A podcast from Oregon State University Extension Service hosted by Dr.
Andony Melathopoulos.
174 - VERONICA WIGNALL - WHACKING BEES FOR SCIENCE:
COMPETITIVE EXCLUSION BETWEEN HONEY BEES AND BUMBLEBEES IN
THE UK

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 11
Industry Calendar

APRIL 2021

7
Washington Blueberry Commission Meeting
RSVP TO ALAN SCHREIBER FOR ZOOM MEETING LINK" AND INCLUDE HIS EMAIL ADDRESS: ASCHREIB@CENTURYTEL.NET

Morocco Berry Conference

7-8 VISIT WEBSITE
WED, APR 7, 20218:00 AM THU, APR 8, 20215:00 PM. VISIT WEBSITE FOR AGENDA AND
MORE INFORMATION

Washington Red Raspberry Commission Board Meeting

14
VIRTUAL MEETING WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021 1:00 PM 5:00 PM. RSVP TO HENRY BIERLINK FOR ZOOM MEETING LINK"
HERE IS HIS EMAIL: HENRY@RED-RASPBERRY.ORG

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 11
 THE SMALL FRUIT UPDATE
WEEK 14 | APRIL 01, 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.