SMALL FRUIT UPDATE | WEEK 13 |  

MAR 25, 2021

Ice on Legacy blueberries photo by Tom Peerbolt

WHAT'S INSIDE Tom Peerbolt

NORTHWEST BERRY FOUNDATION
INDUSTRY RESOURCES

GROWER RESOURCES
Random comments:
INDUSTRY NEWS
The only winter damage seen or reported in Willamette Valley berry crops
has been the breakage caused by the ice storm we had a few weeks ago to
PEST MANAGEMENT some blueberry plants and, mainly, to posts and wires in some blackberry
fields.
SFU SPONSORS It’s time for beginning mummy berry preventative sprays in most valley
blueberry fields. If we get any extended wet periods, the risk of infection is
greatly enhanced. Plants are susceptible to infection from now through the
end of bloom.
2016 was the earliest harvest year I’ve experienced. Harvest of Duke blues
that year started on June 9th. This week (week 13) in 2016 we were getting
in the first beehives with about 10% Duke bloom. We’ve still got a couple of
weeks before bees will be needed this year.
2011 was the latest harvest year I’ve experienced. Harvest of Dukes that
year started on July 13th. Week 13 that year: ‘A few Duke clusters showing
Subscribe Here pink, while other varieties remain in various states of early budbreak.’.
So, for the earliest harvest date prediction ever: Duke harvest in 2021 will
Small Fruit Update is start after June 9th and before July 13th!
produced once a week
during the growing
Have a great week,
season and bimonthly
outside the growing
season (Oct - Feb)
Grower Resources

REGIONAL FIELD REPORTS

Western Oregon, Willamette Valley

Blueberries: (3/24) From Tom Peerbolt, Peerbolt Crop Management, Portland, OR
Pretty typical spring weather with some showers and quite a bit of sun, which feels great! Night temps remain
stubbornly in the high 30s (~3.5°C) holding back soil temperatures and root development. Mummy Berry
applications going on as well as a lot of other fieldwork. Farmworkers are starting to get vaccinated!

Blackberries: (3/24) From Bernadine Strik, OSU Small Fruit Horticulturist

Primocanes in trailing blackberry are emerging so it’s time to apply granular N fertilizer.

Northern Washington, Whatcom & Skagit County (3/24) From Charlie Gundersen, NorCal/Planasa
Wholesale Nursery
Raspberries: Crops are waking up here in Whatcom and Skagit County as well. I saw some great bud growth in
our trials of the advanced raspberry selection, WSU2188, in Whatcom County.

Strawberries: Sweet Sunrise are throwing first leaves. I checked the strawberry trials Julie Pond (the
Northwest Berry Foundation) organized and they’re barely starting to throw leaves too, but not as much as the
Sweet Sunrise.

Raspberry advanced selection, WSU 2188,

with buds breaking. Whatcom County, WA,
3-18-21 Photo by Charlie Gunderson

Sweet Sunrise: First leaves emerging. Whatcom County, WA, 3-18-

21 Photo by Charlie Gunderson

British Columbia, Fraser Valley (3/17) From Chuck Mouritzen, Southwest Crop Consulting, Chilliwack, BC
Blueberries: Development in the blues has moved along enough now such that susceptibility to Mummy Berry
infection in increasing across various areas and varieties this week as expected. The weather really looks
quite variable over the next 7-10 days, so spray applications will be a matter of finding application windows. I'd
say the push on bud development has been slow so far as temps remain moderately cool.

Raspberries: Bud development in Squamish, Rudi and Chemainus raspberries is well underway. But Meekers
are still pretty tight. As mentioned before, I really see no real winter damage in either crops so far.

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 02
 Pest Management, Week 13

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

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

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.

VIEW OSU'S BLUEBERRY PEST

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR WEEKLY
MANAGEMENT GUIDE FOR THE WILLAMETTE
MUMMY BERRY UPDATE:
VALLEY

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 03
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 04
Regional Monitoring

March 17, 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.)

As we start to move into Spring, we got a small bump in numbers in the latest data collection. This is normal,
and exactly what we predicted in the last report.

After the cold snap that caused a large decline in numbers we saw in the previous report, things began to warm
up. The warmer temperatures caused SWD populations, who were hunkered down in order to withstand the
harsher weather, to wake up and search for food sources as they are literally starving. This is the behavior is
what we see play out in these latest numbers. The fact that the increase was relatively small in the warm-up
period is actually a decent indication that the die-off event caused by the cold had a significant effect.

Location Total SWD

SAUV I E I S LAND 18

BANK S 1

FORE S T GROVE N/A

CORN E L I US 18

HILL S B O RO 11

YAMH I L L 220

DUND E E 6

MCMI N N V ILLE 38

WILS O N V ILLE 20

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 05
 Blueberry Bud Development

ADDI T I O N A L VARIETY-
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 BUD D E V ELOPMENT
WEEK 12 3/19/21
WEEK 12 3/27/20
WEEK 12 3/21/19
WEEK 12 3/23/18

ADDI T I O N A L VARIETY-
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 BUD D E V ELOPMENT

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 06
Industry Resources

FEATURED RESOURCES
Announcements, Surveys, and Job Openings

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

RESEARCH
by Dani Lightle, Pesticide Registration Research Leader, Oregon State University

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

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

Blueberry Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for USA and Foreign Trade Markets - Insecticides
READ MORE
Current as of: December 4, 2020

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

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

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 07
PODCASTS OF THE INDUSTRY
The Business of Blueberries: A podcast from the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council hosted by Kasey Cronquist and Rod
Cook.
BLUEBERRIES’ ROLE IN THE RESTAURANT OF THE FUTURE

PolliNation: A podcast from Oregon State University Extension Service hosted by Dr. Andony Melathopoulos.
173 - JESSICA RENDON - JAPANESE BEETLE (IS NO FRIEND OF POLLINATORS)

NEWSLETTERS

Whatcom Ag Monthly: Can “virtual” weather stations replace real weather stations?
READ MORE
(March 2021)

BC Blueberry Council: Blueberry IPM Newsletter

READ MORE
(March 2021)

Industry News

FEATURED LINKS

Blueberry growers at the right place, right time to help pass immigration reform
READ MORE
(3/23, NABC)

Federal judge sides with hydroponic farmers in ‘organic’ fight

READ MORE
(3/22, Modern Farmer)

Mexico: 90% of Baja California’s berries go to the U.S.

READ MORE
(3/22, Blueberry Consulting)

Retail blueberry growth during pandemic can point to these reasons

READ MORE
(3/19, Blue Book Services)

Expanding blueberry industry is working to update pollination practices

READ MORE
(3/22, Good Fruit Grower)

Can “virtual” weather stations replace real weather stations?

READ MORE
(March, Whatcom Ag Monthly)

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 08
PANDEMIC
Washington farmworker vaccinations have begun
READ MORE
(3/18, Good Fruit Grower)

TECHNOLOGY
Microwaving the weeds away
READ MORE
(3/22, Good Fruit Grower)

SOUTH AMERICA
Will Peru overtake Chile as the main blueberry supplier for the Chinese market?
READ MORE
(3/18, Fresh Plaza)

NORTH AMERICA
Florida blueberry volumes expected to increase
READ MORE
(3/16, Blueberry Consulting)

AFRICA
South African berry industry body relaunched as blueberry export soars
READ MORE
(3/23, Fresh Plaza)

SMALL FARMS
Small farm thrives during pandemic
READ MORE
(3/22, Capital Press)

MARKETS
Imported blueberries dominate with Florida production behind
READ MORE
(3/24, Fresh Plaza)

POLLINATORS
Mason bee suppliers begin marketing to tree fruit growers
READ MORE
(3/24, Good Fruit Grower) Some blueberry growers also.

LABOR/COVID-19
COVID-19 positivity rate low for incoming Washington farmworkers
READ MORE
(3/23, Good Fruit Growers)

EUROPE
Ukraine managed to increase exports of frozen berries in a difficult 2020
READ MORE
(3/19, East Fruit)

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 09
Industry Calendar

APRIL 2021

7
Washington Blueberry Commission Meeting
MEETING BEGINS AT 10AM. FURTHER DETAILS COMING SOON.

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. DETAILS COMING
SOON.

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 10
Photo Gallery

Pseudomonas syringae (bacterial canker) Mummyberry stipes -Stage indicating the apothecia
Purple blotch in blackberries
symptoms in blueberries will emerge if conditions are right.

Cascade Delight 3/21/20 by Julie Pond

In a Willamette Valley blueberry field, 2017, photo

photo by Tom Peerbolt
by Jo Peterson

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 11
 THE SMALL FRUIT UPDATE
WEEK 13 | MARCH 25, 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.