THE

SMALL FRUIT
UPDATE

WEEK 11: MARCH 22, 2023

PHOTO BY JASON MYER

Blueberry field 03/17/2023

2023

YOUR REGIONAL RESOURCE FOR:
Weekly
Edition Crop reports, industry news,
Small Fruit Update is
and pest management for
produced once a week berries across the Pacific
during the growing season
and bimonthly outside the Northwest.
growing season (Oct -
Feb)

DESIGNED BY ABBY C GEARING EDITED BY: JULIE POND & ELISA FORD
TABLE OF
CONTENTS

03
Commentary

04
Regional Reports

06
Blueberry Bud Development

08
Industry News

09
Industry Resources

10
Advertise with us
 03Commentary

Mummy Berry—Heightened Alert:

We’re in a high risk situation in the Willamette Valley for mummy

berry infections. Temperatures are in the fifties or higher, leaf
wetness is constant, apothecia are soon to be releasing spores, and
many plants are at green tip stage. Use whatever opportunities you
have to take the appropriate measures!

In other crop management related discussion, and as it relates to the

latest NBF forum post about adopting and adjusting technologies,
I've been hearing a lot about local companies using drones with
pesticide application abilities. There will be a demo at North
Willamette Research and Extension Center on March 28th to see the
technology, learn more about drones on farms, and licensing
requirements. This is directed to vegetable growers but, let's face it,
we're all in this together.

Have a great week,

Julie Pond
BRITISH COLUMBIA 04 Regional Reports

CHILLIWACK, BC (3/21) CHUCK MOURITZEN, SOUTHWEST CROP CONSULTING

Blueberries: Things here are moving slowly. Still not at the point where I see a need for
a mummyberry control spray. But after a warm weekend and the next two days getting
up to 15-17C(60F) there might be a push on vegetative development. Could get in for a
spray on the earliest fields this weekend. But otherwise I think we're into next week.
Still pruning going on, so a delayed spray requirement will ease that field complication.

OREGON

WILLAMETTE VALLEY (3/16) JULIE POND, NORTHWEST BERRY FOUNDATION

Washington Strawberries: Sounds like some Day Neutral Strawberries have some cold
damage in NW WA late last year. Not sure if they didn't shut down soon enough but
seemed significant in a few plantings.

Eastern WA blueberries: Plants are late bud swell in many of the earliest varieties.
Concern for cold damage (but no official damage reports yet) from the 9F cold and
strong winds last week. Otherwise the plants looked to have come through the winter
ok.

Oregon blueberries: Liberty and Legacy are late bud swell and are just coming into a
1/4 inch leaf tip stage. No mummyberry sightings as of yet but this is prime time now.
Blue Ribbon was tighter packed and no leaf emergence was noticed yet.

PEST ALERT: MUMMY BERRY

Throughout the Northwest, we are approaching the time when blueberry fields become vulnerable to infections. Be
ready with a management program by the time at-risk fields reach the ‘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.
Mummy berry fungus details from the PNW Pest Management Handbook

Critical Points
The optimum temperature for spore release and infection is 50°F to 57°F (10°C
to 14°C).
Typically when temperatures are over 45°F, that's when we enter the risk zone.
At least 12 hours of wetness is required for infection.
WE EK 12 : 3/ 17/ 23

PATRIOT BLUEJAY DUKE DRAPER TOP SHELF LIBERTY AURORA LAST CALL

WE EK 12 3/ 18 /2 2

PATRIOT BLUEJAY DUKE DRAPER TOP SHELF LIBERTY AURORA LAST CALL

WE EK 12 3/ 19 /2 1

PATRIOT BLUEJAY DUKE DRAPER TOP SHELF LIBERTY AURORA LAST CALL

WE EK 12 3/ 27 /2 0

PATRIOT BLUEJAY DUKE DRAPER TOP SHELF LIBERTY AURORA LAST CALL
 INSECTS AND MITES
06
Pest Management

Caneberries
RASPBERRY CROWN BORER
If you've had borer problems in the past, March is the time to drench for crown
borer management in caneberries.

ROSE STEM GIRDLER (RSG)

This small, metallic beetle is a pest of cane fruit and has been found throughout
the Willamette Valley of western Oregon. Infestations can reduce fruit yields and
have the potential to kill canes. Pruning and cane removal can help reduce
populations. There are no insecticides currently labeled for RSG control.

Southern Caneberries
STRAWBERRY CROWN MOTH
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.

Southern Strawberries
CLAY COLORED WEEVILS
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, emerging adult Clay Colored Weevils have been recovered
from SW Washington southern strawberry fields and blueberry fields.

Blackberries
REDBERRY MITE
(Evergreen blackberries): Dormant sprays of lime/sulfur or elemental sulfur for
Blackberry Rust and Redberry Mite are recommended in March.
DISEASES

Raspberries
07
Crop Management

PHYTOPHTHORA ROOT ROT

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.

CANE BLIGHT
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.

Blackberries

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.

PURPLE BLOTCH
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.

Blueberries
Scout for Pseudomonas (Bacterial Canker). Water-soaked lesions usually appear
in February in some fields that then develop into reddish-brown to black cankers.
See the Northwest Center for Small Fruit Research on bacterial blight fact sheet.
 08 Industry News

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NCSFR ANNUAL SURVEY

This is the annual opportunity to provide feedback on the communication efforts of the Northwest
Center for Small Fruit Research. Please note that the deadline for submitting this survey is Friday,
March 31st.

A $50 gift card to Ace Hardware will be provided to a random individual who submits a completed
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PODCASTS OF THE INDUSTRY

The Business of Blueberries: A podcast from the U.S. Highbush

Blueberry Council hosted by Kasey Cronquist and Rod Cook.
“TRENDS IMPACTING THE BLUEBERRY INDUSTRY WITH DAVID MAGAÑA”

PolliNation: A podcast from Oregon State University Extension Service

hosted by Dr. Andony Melathopoulos.
234 - GOLDSTEIN - COLONY STRENGTH AND BLUEBERRY POLLINATION

NEWSLETTERS OF THE INDUSTRY

Oregon IPM Center: IPM News for March 2023

‘The Business of Blueberries’: Trends Impacting the Blueberry Industry With David Magaña
FEATURED
LINKS
09 Industry Resources

Blueberries have joined green beans in this year’s Dirty Dozen list (CNN 3/15/2023)
Strawberry products sold at Costco, Trader Joe's, recalled after hepatitis A outbreak (NPR
3/18/23)
Amelie Aust promoted to Executive Chair of Fall Creek Board of Directors (FreshPlaza 3/21/23)
Frozen berries sold at Costco, Trader Joe's and other stores recalled due to possible hepatitis A
contamination. (CBS News, 3/17/23)
Frozen fruit recalled from Trader Joe's, Costco, and Aldi's Due to Hepatitis Outbreak (Food &
Wine, 3/20/23)
Updated - Scenic Fruit Company recalls frozen organic strawberries and frozen organic tropical
blend because of possible health risk (FDA.gov, 3/17/23)

Gresham fruit company issues recall for frozen strawberries, fruit mix sold at Costco, Trader
Joe's over Hepatitis A risk (KOIN.com, 3/20/23)

NORTH AMERICA

USDA highlights Hurricane Ian disaster assistance

(Fruit Grower News 3/15/23) READ MORE

NOAA's spring outlook sees drought spreading in Northwest

READ MORE
(Capital Press 3/17/23)

Significant price increases included strawberries, blackberries, and Raspberries

READ MORE
(FreshPlaza 3/19/23)

How record rainfall is impacting California's strawberries

READ MORE
(FreshPlaza 3/20/23)

Naturipe hires director of premium products

READ MORE
(Fruit Grower News 3/20/23)

Movement of blueberries through Arizona, California, and Texas Increasing

READ MORE
(FreshPlaza 3/20/2023)

California strawberry growers assess flooding damages

READ MORE
(Capital Press 3/21/23)

Freeze affects Mississippi's blueberry bloom

READ MORE
(WAPT 3/21/23)
WORLD

Peru's blueberry area grew by 11% in 2022

(FreshPlaza 3/17/23) READ MORE

Chilean fresh fruit exports up to February increased by 17.3%

(FreshPlaza 3/20/23) READ MORE

China approves USHBC to market blueberries

(Fruit Grower News 3/20/23) READ MORE

Mexico: Agro-exports saw record values in 2022

(FreshPlaza 3/21/2023) READ MORE

Huelva's blueberry and strawberry production decreased by 25%

(FreshPlaza 3/21/23) READ MORE

CROP MANAGEMENT

For New Blueberry Varieties, It’s Out With the Old and In With the Vigor
(Growing Produce 3/14/23) READ MORE

PHOTO BY JASON MYER

SPRING IN THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY 03/17/2023

 This Weeks' Ad
10 SFU Advertising

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off season (October through February).

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 March 2023 11 Industry Calendar

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Produce Safety Alliance Grower 15th Annual Caneberry
Trainings Production Workshop

12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Plant a Flower Day Oregon Blueberry Washington Grower
Global Recycling
Commission Meeting Workshop
Day

19 20 21 22 23 24 25
World Agricultural Oregon Blackberry and
Day Raspberry Commission
Meeting

26 27 28 29 30 31
Farm Workers Day
Drone Demo

MARCH NOTES APRIL EVENT NOTES

Oregon Blueberry Commission Meeting Washington Red Raspberry Commission Meeting

West Salem Roth’s. Email Lisa for more information. 1pm. Lynden, WA. Email Henry for more information.

Oregon Blackberry and Raspberry Commission Meeting Washington Blueberry Commission Meeting
9am. Tualatin, OR. View agenda here. Time TBD. Mt. Vernon, WA. Email Alan for more information.

OSC Meeting (Date changed from March 21)

April 11th, 2023. North Willamette Research and Extension
Center. Details TBA.

UPCOMING EVENTS

We are only displaying the calendar one month at a time to improve your viewing experience and keep the SFU
at a reasonable page count. Future months calendar information can be found on our website.

VIEW INDUSTRY CALENDAR

THE
SMALL FRUIT UPDATE
WEEK 12: MARCH 22, 2023

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