SMALL FRUIT UPDATE | WEEK 22 |  

MAY 26, 2021

Prime-ark 45 Blackberry

WHAT'S INSIDE Julie Pond

NORTHWEST BERRY FOUNDATION

INDUSTRY RESOURCES
We’re in the process of shifting gears to caneberry pollination in the Willamette
GROWER RESOURCES Valley. While caneberry pollination is not usually a concern as blooms have plenty of
nectar and pollen is easily accessible making them more pollinator friendly, this
INDUSTRY NEWS recent PolliNation podcast was brought to our attention. The featured speaker, Jim
Cane, is a recently retired native bee and pollination ecologist who has spent plenty
PEST MANAGEMENT
of time in the Pacific Northwest doing field surveys and recalls seeing caneberry
fields with an overabundance of honeybees.
SFU SPONSORS
This podcast has some great discussion on how to evaluate the adequate number
of bees for caneberry crops based on data collected in recent years. Based off red
raspberry fruit set and blooms per acre, if a grower sees one honeybee (or other
native pollinator) per five feet of planted row then they can consider that adequate
pollination of that crop while allowing the native populations to build up their
reserves in the field at the same time.

Considering many growers bring in hives to first pollinate blueberries or other early
season crops and leave them there through raspberry and blackberry bloom, each
farm situation and needs are different. However, it's a worthy and directly applicable
Subscribe Here discussion piece which is easier to digest on years when constant rain isn't
hindering the pollination window. Your native pollinator populations are just waiting
Small Fruit Update is for those short breaks in rain we are having now to show their worth.
produced once a week
during the growing We need the rain as much as we need the pollination right now.
season and bimonthly
outside the growing Julie
season (Oct - Feb)

Updated as of May 24, 2021: ‘Maximum Pesticide Residue Limits (MRLs) for USA and Foreign Markets’ for
Blueberries, Blackberries, Raspberries and Strawberries
Compiled by Dani Lightle, Pesticide Registration Research Leader, Oregon State University

VIEW SHEETS
Regional Monitoring

May 13, 2021

VIEW FULL REPORT SIGN UP HERE

REGIONAL MONITORING
(This is a repeat of last week’s information as the new report wasn’t received in time to include in this week’s edition.)

Welcome to May and this week's edition of the Agragene SWD Report!

It has been two weeks since the last report and not much has changed. We continue to see a strong
indication of low SWD populations in the environment, and no sign yet of the first generation of the
season emerging. This past month has provided some exceptionally pleasant weather in the
Willamette Valley, so SWD activity isn't being suppressed by environmental conditions and what we
are seeing is most probably a full representation of the current population.

Location Total SWD

SAUV I E I S LAND 8

BANK S 0

FORE S T GROVE 1

CORN E L I US 2

HILL S B O RO 3

YAMH I L L 1

DUND E E 1

MCMI N N V ILLE 1

WILS O N V ILLE 1

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 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 21 5/21/2021
WEEK 20 5/22/20
WEEK 20 5/17/19
WEEK 20 5/18/18

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 (5/22)From Tom Peerbolt, PCM, Portland, OR
All crops: Cool weather! One of the weather stations over in Hillsboro actually went down to 32 (0 C) a couple of
nights ago. Just wish we’d get some decent rain but, except for a few downpour situations, it isn’t happening. That’s
about it for whining about anything. Oh, the chemical/fertilizer/trellis, etc. supply shortages are getting a fair amount
of complaint for very good reason. That one appears to be something that will be with us a while as supply lines get
sorted. Oh, yes. One other area worthy of concern---labor. The first large crews of the season will be needed for
strawberries and some Hood fields will likely be ready to go by the end of this coming week. It has been too quiet on
the sign-up lists for some growers. Amanda spoke to that last week with her day-neutral strawberries ready to go.

Blueberries: Pollination was great. This cooler weather for fruit sizing is keeping plants from fading too much from
nutrient compartmentalizing. Also allowing moisture stress to be held in check. No coloring yet that I’ve seen. It looks
like we’re back to being a few days to a week behind last year. Maybe give the strawberries a chance to get picked
before the Dukes start harvest. Watch out for green berry botrytis, especially in Dukes. Even with minimal rain, the
clusters will likely be showing some.

Blueberry virus diseases: Lots of industry discussion about virus symptoms and diagnosis in blues right now. There
definitely seem to be evolving situations with both Shock virus and Scorch virus. We need our new USDA virologist
onboard to help get all this sorted out. We’ve (Peerbolt Crop Management & Walters Ag Research) got a project
coordinating with the University of Arkansas to have samples analyzed for suspected new strains or agents but that’s
all been on hold due to the Coronavirus situation. That should get moving again this year.

Blackberries: Columbia Star looks to be around 50% bloom. Again weather has been very good especially given the
early stress/damage symptoms they were showing. Hopefully, we can continue with mild weather, conducive to
maximizing the crop’s potential given the initial frost damage. Just a note on one of the Oregon State/USDA breeding
program’s advanced selection, ORUS 4222-1. It continues to look promising as a mid-season, machine harvested type
blackberry. It comes on a few days later than Columbia Star with very good quality fruit. Something to keep an eye on.

5-20-21 Columbia Sunrise 5-20-21 Halls Beauty 5-20-21 Columbia Star

Washington (5/24) From Alan Schreiber, Executive Director, Washington Blueberry Commission
Blueberries: It has been quite dry, which means that disease pressure has been low so far on both sides of the
mountains and has allowed growers to get plant husbandry tasks completed, however, making sure adequate
irrigation occurs is important. The biggest problem has been the widespread appearance of shock virus, particularly
in Draper.
Eastside: Eastern Washington growing conditions continue to be ideal for blueberries. Still planning for the initial
harvest to start the week of June 14.
Westside: Crop came through the year with virtually no winter injury, which is curious as raspberry crops on the same
fields had significant winter injury. The window for pollination started out mixed but has steadily improved and is on
the downhill side with the later varieties about 60% of the way through bloom. Overall, pollination is considered better
than average, and better than expected two weeks ago. This portends well for a large crop coming out of Western
Washington.
Overall: All indications are that Washington will have a very nice blueberry crop in 2021.

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 Industry Resources

Northern Washington, Whatcom & Skagit Counties (5/18) From Tom Walters, Walters Ag Research, Anacortes, WA.
Raspberry disease symptoms: As raspberries are getting into bloom, I’m beginning to see sporadic cane collapse
symptoms (typical of root rot) on the earlier-flowering varieties like Wakehaven (first photo). Cascade Premier seems to
have less of this, even though it is just as early to bloom. Premier also seemed to have less winter injury than
Wakehaven, both of which were much less affected than Meeker. More root rot symptoms to come as more varieties get
into fruit expansion phase in a week or two.

Absence of laterals in Cascade Premier. Probable cause is cane botrytis.

Cane collapse in Wakehaven. Typical of root

rot.

On the other hand, I’m seeing concerning levels of cane Botrytis in Cascade Premier, causing the lower half of canes to
completely lack laterals (second photo). Looks to me like it will impact yield in at least one field. We certainly have a lot
of data on controlling the fruit rot phase of Botrytis infection, but I know much less about effective products and timing
for protecting canes. Given that the infection is worst on the lower part of canes, I suspect that cane infection happens
while the primocanes are still under 4 ft high. Any thoughts out there?

British Columbia, Fraser Valley (5/25) From Chuck Mouritzen, Southwest Crop Consulting, Chilliwack, BC
Blueberries: Bees are being pulled out of more and more fields as we transition into post bloom activities on Duke,
Bluecrop ,Reka and even some Draper and Aurora fields. Calypso, Last Call, Liberty and Elliot will continue into this week
with variable amounts of flowers left. Looks a bit wet this week so controls will be applied against botrytis infection of
flowers and green fruit. Lots of virus infection out there - be it shock or scorch. And with more flying aphids showing up
all the time and colonies beginning to establish, it is critical to get on these with control measures quickly. I can't say, as
you have, that pollination was great. I think it will be better than I thought earlier on in the flowering period when bee
activity was really unremarkable. The last week or so has been good. But I fear that the whole pollination period was not
optimally served.

Raspberries: More and more flowering is appearing in raspberries on earlier varieties. So far not seeing a lot of mite
pressure or yellow rust. And growing conditions have been good with little plant stress so far.

Willamette Valley,(5/25) Darren Sinn, Blackberry & Blueberry Grower

Blackberries: Localized blackberry damage is still evident, especially in Black Diamond. Attached are pictures of normal
fields verse damaged

Blueberries: Willamette Valley had a few roving hail showers last week. Minimal damage in most fields.

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 05
 Cold-damaged Black Diamond blackberry Healthy, undamaged Black Diamond
field. Photo by Darren Sinn blackberry field. Photo by Darren Sinn

Western Oregon, Willamette Valley From Julie Pond, PCM, Portland, OR

Strawberry: Albion harvest is beginning as is fresh market june bearing varieties like Sweet Sunrise. Processed
Hoods to begin very early next week. Slugs are making their presence known as are some birds feeding on berries.

Raspberry: We're likely around the halfway point in bloom. Some overwintering leafroller larvae and pupae are
starting to show up in curled leaves right now.

Blueberry: Bee boxes are being moved out of fields this week. Later season varieties are in full bloom and moving
into the downhill swing right now. Some near freezing temps in low spots were noted the middle of last week so frost
protection was in the works.

Oblique Banded Leafroller larva in Willamette

Valley grown Cascade Delight Raspberry on
5/20/21. Photo by Julie Pond

British Columbia, Fraser Valley (5/25) From Chuck Mouritzen, Southwest Crop Consulting, Chilliwack, BC
Blueberries: Bees are being pulled out of more and more fields as we transition into post bloom activities on Duke,
Bluecrop ,Reka and even some Draper and Aurora fields. Calypso, Last Call, Liberty and Elliot will continue into this
week with variable amounts of flowers left. Looks a bit wet this week so controls will be applied against botrytis
infection of flowers and green fruit. Lots of virus infection out there - be it shock or scorch. And with more flying
aphids showing up all the time and colonies beginning to establish, it is critical to get on these with control measures
quickly. I can't say, as you have, that pollination was great. I think it will be better than I thought earlier on in the
flowering period when bee activity was really unremarkable. The last week or so has been good. But I fear that the
whole pollination period was not optimally served.

Raspberries: More and more flowering is appearing in raspberries on earlier varieties. So far not seeing a lot of mite
pressure or yellow rust. And growing conditions have been good with little plant stress so far.

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 06
Industry News

PODCASTS OF THE INDUSTRY

The Business of Blueberries: A podcast from the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council hosted by
Kasey Cronquist and Rod Cook.
2021 EXPORT OUTLOOK WITH ALICIA ADLER AND TERRY FASEL

PolliNation: A podcast from Oregon State University Extension Service hosted by Dr. Andony
Melathopoulos.
181 - JIM CANE - POLLINATION OF RASPBERRIES AND OTHER CANEBERRIES

NEWSLETTERS OF THE INDUSTRY

Whatcom Ag Monthly May 2021 READ MORE

FEATURED LINKS
Podcast: 2021 Blueberry Export Outlook—USHBC (Recorded 5/19, Alicia Adler, Terry Fasel, Casey Cronquist)

Chinese blueberries: “Our greatest strength is diversity in varieties” (5/21, Fresh Plaza)

High-tech bee boosters (5/20, Good Fruit Grower)This is in cherries but is coming the way of the berry crops.

Which new fungicides can a use to fight grey mold in my berries? It’s all about the mutations (May issue, Whatcom Ag
Monthly)

Canada backs down from imidacloprid ban, but adds restrictions (5/20, Fresh Fruit Portal)

NORTH AMERICA

North Carolina growers evaluate recent hailstorm’s impact on blueberry crop

READ MORE
(5/21, Fresh Plaza)

Florida blueberries: Best year in a long time

READ MORE
(5/24, VSC News)

EUROPE

Serbian fruit exports grew by 19% - despite pandemic

READ MORE
(5/25, Fresh Plaza)

Serbia: “Rains have set everything back”

READ MORE
(5/20, Fresh Plaza)

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 07
MARKETS

Global fresh produce trade volumes trend downward READ MORE

(5/21, Fresh Fruit Portal)

STRAWBERRIES

US fresh strawberry production expands with newer varieties READ MORE

(5/20, Fruit Growers News)

INFRASTRUCTURE

States make progress on rural broadband READ MORE

(5/21, Capital Press)

COMPANIES

Wish Farms’ James Peterson shares strawberry market update and outlook READ MORE
(5/24, andnowyouknow.com)

Pest and Crop Management

Please note that our Pest and Crop Management section will return in
the near future.

Industry Calendar

MAY 2021
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 08
 THE SMALL FRUIT UPDATE
WEEK 22 | MAY 26, 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.