SMALL FRUIT UPDATE | WEEK 4 |  

JANUARY 20, 2022

WHAT'S INSIDE Julie Pond

NORTHWEST BERRY FOUNDATION
INDUSTRY RESOURCES

It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of Jack Pinkerton, retired USDA-
GROWER RESOURCES
ARS nematologist/plant pathologist on January 11, 2022. Inga Zasada says it best:
“Jack was long a part of our USDA-HCRU family and truly loved working here, being
INDUSTRY NEWS
a nematologist/plant pathologist, and being part of our wonderful community. He
will be missed.”
PEST MANAGEMENT

Here is a remembrance of Jack’s life.

SFU SPONSORS

Dr. Jack Pinkerton

April 1945 - January 2022

“I am requesting friends celebrate my life with memories,

music, dancing and feasting.” Jack Pinkerton

Subscribe Here

Small Fruit Update is

produced once a week
during the growing
season and bimonthly
outside the growing
season (Oct - Feb)

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 01
 New Label Registration - Stinger Herbicide

Washington State Department of Agriculture

Washington State Department of Agriculture has issued WA-220002 to Corteva Agriscience for
use of Stinger Herbicide (EPA Reg. No. 62719-73) in blueberries for control of Canada thistle
and certain other broadleaf weeds.

Here is the EPA notice to Washington letter.

Here is the approved Washington label.

Oregon State Department of Agriculture

Oregon Department of Agriculture has approved SLN No. OR-220001, a FIFRA Section 24(c)
registration which authorizes the use of Stinger (EPA Reg. No. 62719-73; active ingredient:
clopyralid) to control broadleaf weeds and Canada thistle in caneberry (subgroup 13-07A) in
Oregon.

Here is the EPA notice to Oregon letter

Here is the approved Oregon label.

2021 Plant Sales by Variety

Information is in! See below for caneberry and strawberry varieties grown in British Columbia,
Washington and Oregon

Strawberry 2021 Plant Sales

Red Raspberry 2021 Plant Sales
Black Raspberry 2021 Plant Sales
Blackberry 2021 Plant Sales

Special thanks to all nurseries who send in this annual information. Thank you to Alexander Roberts
and Julie Pond, Northwest Berry Foundation, for compiling this data.

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 02
 Industry News

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

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research Request for Proposals

The Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research (NCSFR) has released the Request for Applications (RFA) for
2022. All applications must be submitted online by January 28, 2022. If you have any questions, contact the
Northwest Berry Foundation at info@nwberries.org.

LEARN MORE

Oregon Strawberry Commission research proposals due: Feb. 18, 2022. More information here

PODCASTS OF THE INDUSTRY

The Business of Blueberries: A podcast from the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council hosted by Kasey Cronquist
and Rod Cook.
DEVELOPING INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP WITH ASHLEE SIKORSKI

PolliNation: A podcast from Oregon State University Extension Service hosted by Dr. Andony
Melathopoulos.
202 - MOYER - GETTING BEES OUT OF THE WALLS

NEWSLETTERS OF THE INDUSTRY

Whatcom Ag Monthly January 2022
Export Documentation Training
Endowed Professorship for NW Berry Production and Management Interviews
Oregon Blueberry Commission Scholarship Program
Fact Sheet: Blueberry pollination in tunnels

Oregon Raspberry & Blackberry Commission - Now Accepting Applications for Handler 1 Board Position

Oregon IPM Center: IPM News for January 2022

Interpack Bulletin- Jan 2022

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 03
FEATURED LINKS
The 2021 Washington Small Fruit Conference Presentations now online

China has the largest blueberry acreage in the world (1/12, Blueberry consulting)

Mexican berry industry to grow substantially in 2022 (1/14, Fresh Fruit Portal)

Tools being developed for determining beehive strength without needing to open the hives

The promise of AI (artificial Intelligence) is becoming clearer (1/13, Good Fruit Grower)

GROWER RESOURCES
The importance of soil pH in blueberry fields READ MORE
(1/7, Fresh Fruit Portal)

COMPANY NEWS
Bobalu Berry Farms shares 2022 plans READ MORE
(1/17, The Packer)

Ocean Spray markets hydroponic strawberries READ MORE

(1/15, Ocean Spray press release)

North Bay Produce: Tight berry market conditions and North Bay’s one-stop shop READ MORE
(1/13, andnowyouknow.com)

UPCOMING MEETINGS
Start to book these key fruit industry coming in 2022 READ MORE
(1/5, Fresh Fruit Portal)

TECHNOLOGY
South Africa: Robot increases the efficiency of blueberry picking READ MORE
(1/14, Blueberry Consulting)

LABOR
Workers navigate new overtime rules READ MORE
(1/6, Good Fruit Grower)

NORTH AMERICA
Florida strawberries seeing extremely strong demand READ MORE
(1/17, Fresh Plaza)

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 04
MARKETING
Top ten fruits in ads this week includes blueberries and raspberries READ MORE
(1/17, Fresh Plaza)

POLLINATION
WSU bee center in Othello filling up, honey extractor moves in (1/17) READ MORE
(1/17, Fresh Plaza)

PESTICIDE REGULATION
California considering new pesticide application advance notification rules READ MORE
(11/18/21, Progressive Crop Consultant)

RESEARCH PERSONNEL
Dr. Surendra Dara named new director of the North Willamette Research and Extension Center READ MORE
(1/11, OSU)

STRAWBERRY
Research shows alternative controls for thrips on strawberries READ MORE
(1/5, NCAT.org)

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 05
 Industry Calendar

FEBRUARY 2022

2022 Berry Health Benefits Symposium

1 - 3
POSTPONED TO 2023

Latino Farmer Conference

09
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

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

Blueberry Conference
14
IN PERSON, SALEM CONVENTION CENTER: 200 LIBERTY STREET SE, SALEM, OR 97301. MORE INFORMATION HERE

OSU Small Farms Conference

18 - 19
VIRTUAL EVENT. MORE INFORMATION HERE

OSC Annual Meeting

23
9AM AT NWREC, AURORA, OR DETAILS TBA

Spring Forward 2022 in Tampa and Virtually

28 -3/3
FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 3 BOTH IN PERSON IN TAMPA, FL AND VIRTUALLY. REGISTER HERE

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

Oregon Strawberry Commission Meeting

23
11AM, HAYDEN'S BAR AND GRILL, TIGARD, OR. MORE INFORMATION: EMAIL RANDI

3/31-4/2
Lower Mainland Horticultural Growers Short Course
HYBRID EVENT. 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 06
 THE SMALL FRUIT UPDATE
WEEK 4 | JANUARY 20, 2022

Abby Gearing,
This is the sole industry publication, SFU Designer & Editor
gathering grower and producer news, and abby@nwberries.org
regional field reports to unite, stabilize, and
strengthen the Northwest berry growing Elisa Ford,
NBF Co-Director
region (Canada and US).
elisa@nwberries.org

Production is independent of government

Julie Pond,
and commercial control and made possible NBF Co-Director & Editor
by the following commission & councils. julie@peerbolt.com

For more information or requests please Tom Peerbolt,

contact: Director At-Large, Chief Editor Emeritus
tom@peerbolt.com.