SMALL FRUIT UPDATE | WEEK 47 |  

NOVEMBER 17, 2021

Julie Pond
WHAT'S INSIDE NORTHWEST BERRY FOUNDATION

INDUSTRY RESOURCES
These days, a lot of farmers can gaze across their fields and enjoy...a view of a brand new
subdivision under construction. I was running errands in Southwestern Washington over the
GROWER RESOURCES weekend, and had brought my kids along. While telling them stories about the farms I used
to work at in the area, they looked around and saw a very different landscape than the one in
INDUSTRY NEWS my memories. "Uh, mom, I don't see the fields you're talking about, only houses." They were
right. Much has changed, but there were still a few fields I was able to point out, here and
PEST MANAGEMENT
there. But a lot of these remaining farms had blended into housing tracts, town centers, and
other signs of expanding suburbia.

SFU SPONSORS
As growers, and others that are used to working in this industry, we're usually looking down
at the soil and plants. When we do finally look up, we see houses that weren't there a
moment ago. Neighborhoods bordering farm properties that popped up in the blink of an
eye. Roads that are shared by tractors and minivans alike.

I'm not alone in seeing this shift, either. This WSU-OSU partnership webinar series explores
the realities of farming around these new urban centers. The five episodes are designed for
"farmers, policy-makers, educators, and food system stakeholders to learn strategies to
improve the viability of farming in urbanizing areas". You might recognize a few of the faces
in the introductory YouTube video - take a look.

Subscribe Here

Small Fruit Update is

produced once a week
during the growing
PEST ALERT: Blackberry Collapse
season and bimonthly
Now is the time to look for weak blackberry plants with red colored canes caused by
outside the growing
Blackberry Collapse. Symptoms tend to be more evident in the fall season. The ‘Collapse’
season (Oct - Feb)
also displays the wilting and death of the entire plant, down to the roots. It is known to
affect both entire fields or only certain sections. Infected plants do not recover.
If there are fields that are problematic and you’re interested in being part of a research
project funded by ORBC and NCSFR to explore this disease then please email Jason at
Peerbolt Crop Management so we can collect samples to send for testing. While
symptoms mentioned are observed on Columbia Star this could be exhibited by several
other varieties and no variety is currently showing resistance to this fungal complex. The
goal of this research is to contribute to the prevention and management of Blackberry
LINK Collapse once the implications of this infection are better understood.
LEARN MORE
 Industry News

Blackberry Collapse in Columbia Star. Photo: Virginia Stockwell

Blueberry Pollination Survey

The survey is part of a USDA NIFA-funded project to improve blueberry pollination. Though this survey, we
are trying to get a better picture of pollination practices. Whether a grower has 1 or 1000 acres, having their
input is important. Furthermore, respondents from each state will be entered in a raffle to win a $50 gift
certificate.

COMPLETE SURVEY

PODCASTS OF THE INDUSTRY

The Business of Blueberries: A podcast from the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council hosted by Kasey
Cronquist and Rod Cook.
CONNECTING BLUEBERRIES TO FOOD BRANDS

NEWSLETTERS OF THE INDUSTRY

Interpack Bulletin - November 2021

NCSFR Fall Newsletter Vol 3

Blueberry Growers and Importers Vote to Continue the USHBC’s Demand-Driving Work in 2021 Referendum

WRRC November 2021 Newsletter

Oregon Blueberry Commission Scholarship Program

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Oregon Blueberry Commission's RFP deadline of November 24, 2021

Washington Blueberry Commission RFP here - Deadline Dec. 13, 2021 for Proposals
Washington State Commission on Pesticide Registration (WSCPR) RFP Deadline Nov. 19, 2021

Washington Red Raspberry Commission RFP - Deadline Dec. 13, 2021

USDA funding is available for COVID-related expenses. Applications due November 22, 2021

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 02
 Regional Monitoring

October 28, 2021

VIEW FULL REPORT SIGN UP HERE

REGIONAL MONITORING
(This is a repeat from last week)

Welcome to this week's Agragene Regional SWD Report!

As October comes to a close, the data we have for you today shows a continue trend of patterns we have
seen developing in past weeks. October weather turned out to be quite chaotic as we had mild spells
interrupted by some massive weather systems that brought lots of rainfall and some sub-freezing
temperatures.

Location Total SWD

SAUV I E I S LAND 3168

BANK S 223

FORE S T GROVE 348

CORN E L I US 343

HILL S B O RO 411

YAMH I L L 83

DUND E E 441

MCMI N N V ILLE 1392

WILS O N V ILLE 71

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 03
FEATURED LINKS
Over a third of strawberries harvested are discarded due to their short shelf life. Here’s how CRISPER could help them last longer
(11/11, GLP)

Blueberry farm transitions to employee-owned enterprise (10/1, Western FarmPress)

These harvest numbers show how bad the heatwave was on Whatcom County’s raspberries (10/19)

Innovative, non-invasive method for determining honeybee hive strength being tested in blueberries (11/1, American Bee Journal)

As winter nears, La Nina grows stronger (11/11, Capital Press)

PLASTICS IN AG
Berry growers launch inaugural ‘Agricultural Plastics Innovation Challenge’ READ MORE
(10/20, The Produce News)

INVASIVE SPECIES
B.C.: Langley logs first Asian hornet READ MORE
(10/29, USDA-AMS)

COMPANIES
Chilean food company Hortifruit acquires berry company, Atlantic Blue’ for $280 million READ MORE
(10/20, FoodBev Media)

Simplot Company and Plant Sciences Inc. create a strategic alliance on gene editing on strawberries READ MORE
(11/13, The Packer)

TECHNOLOGY
Technology for the control and monitoring of the cold chain READ MORE
(11/11, Fresh Fruit Portal)

NORTH AMERICA
Maine’s wild blueberries adapting to changes brought on by climate change READ MORE
(11/12, News Center Maine)

NORTHWEST
Northwest Another Oregon county looks to join Idaho READ MORE
(11/3, Capital Press)

SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES

Supply chain snarls will hinder availability of crop inputs READ MORE
(11/13, Capital Press)

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 04
Refrigerated sector hit hard by supply-chain issues READ MORE
(11/11, Capital Press)

Ag exporter grapples with port delays READ MORE

(11/12, Capital Press)

INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Eyes wide shut? US agriculture faces China reckoning READ MORE
(11/10, The Packer)

PESTICIDES
Is glyphosate (Roundup) herbicide dangerous? READ MORE
(11/11, GLP)

LABOR
U.S. let in record 317,000 agricultural workers READ MORE
(11/10, Successful Farming)

COUNCILS/COMMISSIONS
Blueberry industry votes to continue national research and promotion program READ MORE
(11/8, The Packer)

SOUTH AMERICA
Chilean blueberry exporters expect a similar crop to a year ago READ MORE
(11/10, The Packer)

Peru: Why will the “World Blueberry Tour” start in Peru?

(11/9, Blueberry Consulting) READ MORE

GRANTS
PNW specialty crop projects receive grants from USDA READ MORE
(11/9, Western Farmer-Stockman)

CLIMATE/WEATHER
Continuing rain raises flooding, landslide risk in Washington, Oregon READ MORE
(11/12, Capital Press)

FEEDING THE HUNGRY

Food banks struggle to feed hungry amid surging prices READ MORE
(11/10, Capital Press)

INDIA
India: IG Berries foresees a major expansion READ MORE
(11/11, Blueberry Consulting)

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 05
Industry Calendar

NOVEMBER 2021

25

ORBC Annual Meeting

30
8:30AM-12PM VIA ZOOM. ADDITIONAL DETAILS TBA

DECEMBER 2021
OSU Organic Blueberry Webinar
01
11AM PST. REGISTER: HTTPS://EORGANIC.ORG/NODE/35124

Small Fruit Conference

1-3
LYNDEN WA. HYBRID OPTIONAL - REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Latino Farmer Conference

08
THE SEVENTH ANNUAL LATINO FARMER CONFERENCE BEGINS DECEMBER 8. THE THREE-PART WEBINAR SERIES IS FREE TO ATTEND
REGISTER HERE

“Farming on the Urban Edge” Virtual Conference Session 2

10
VIRTUAL CONFERENCE FOR FARMERS, POLICY-MAKERS, EDUCATORS, AND FOOD SYSTEMS STAKEHOLDERS. REGISTER HERE

2021 NCSFR Conference

13 - 15
TO BOOK A HOTEL ROOM, CLICK HERE. MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT ELISA
FORD AT INFO@NWBERRIES.ORG. VIEW CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

JANUARY 2022
WRRC Research Committee Meeting.
05
DETAILS TBA

OSC Meeting 11am, Hayden's Grill

06
8187 SW TUALATIN-SHERWOOD RD, TUALATIN, OR 97062 (WITH A CONFERENCE CALL OPTION)

Latino Farmer Conference

12
THE SEVENTH ANNUAL LATINO FARMER CONFERENCE BEGINS DECEMBER 8. THE THREE-PART WEBINAR SERIES IS FREE TO ATTEND
REGISTER HERE

“Farming on the Urban Edge” Virtual Conference Session 3

14
VIRTUAL CONFERENCE FOR FARMERS, POLICY-MAKERS, EDUCATORS, AND FOOD SYSTEMS STAKEHOLDERS. REGISTER HERE

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 06
 PNWIMC Conference
10 - 11
VIRTUAL EVENT. DETAILS TBA

27 - 29
Lower Mainland Horticultural Growers Short Course
HYBRID EVENT. REGISTRATION LINK TO COME.

FEBRUARY 2022

1 - 3
2022 Berry Health Benefits Symposium
REGISTER HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT!

Latino Farmer Conference

09
THE SEVENTH ANNUAL LATINO FARMER CONFERENCE BEGINS DECEMBER 8. THE THREE-PART WEBINAR SERIES IS FREE TO ATTEND
REGISTER HERE

OSC Annual Meeting

10
9AM AT NWREC, AURORA, OR DETAILS TBA

“Farming on the Urban Edge” Virtual Conference Session 2

11
VIRTUAL CONFERENCE FOR FARMERS, POLICY-MAKERS, EDUCATORS, AND FOOD SYSTEMS STAKEHOLDERS. REGISTER HERE

Blueberry Conference
14
IN PERSON SALEM CONFERENCE CENTER. DETAILS, TBA.

MARCH 2022
“Farming on the Urban Edge” Virtual Conference Session 2
11
VIRTUAL CONFERENCE FOR FARMERS, POLICY-MAKERS, EDUCATORS, AND FOOD SYSTEMS STAKEHOLDERS. REGISTER HERE

JUNE 2022

27 - 29
NABREW meeting hosted by the BC Blueberry Council
IN ABBOTSFORD, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT ERIC GERBRANDT AT
RESEARCH@BCBERRIES.CA

The Small Fruit Update is published by the Northwest Berry Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit. Our mission is to support
the northwest small fruit industry through education, research and information access. The SFU is made possible through the
generosity of our sponsors and readers like you. Donate today, and together we can help our berry growing community thrive.

Thank you for your support!

DONATE NOW

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 07
 THE SMALL FRUIT UPDATE
WEEK 47 | NOVEMBER 17, 2021

This is the sole industry publication, For more information or requests please
gathering grower and producer news, contact:
and regional field reports to unite,
stabilize, and strengthen the Northwest Abby Gearing,
berry growing region (Canada and US). SFU Designer & Editor
abby@nwberries.org
Production is independent of
government and commercial control Tom Peerbolt,
and made possible by the following NBF Director & Editor
commission & councils. tom@peerbolt.com.