2025 disease survey report: Growers share concerns and strategies for fruit disease management

Disease pressures continue to challenge vegetable, tree fruit, berry, grape and melon growers nationwide. As the 2025 season approaches, many anticipate another year of difficult decisions around fruit disease management and crop protection.

A late-2024 survey conducted by Vegetable Growers News revealed which diseases trouble growers the most, along with the type of information and support they seek to overcome these hurdles.

Survey reveals top crop disease challenges

Fruit and vegetable growers reported battling more than 30 diseases, ranging from anthracnose to neopestalotiopsis, also known as pestalotia leaf spot and fruit rot on strawberries.

When asked about their most significant challenges, growers listed blights, mildews, rots and rusts. Each disease contributed equally to the survey totals, regardless of how many times it was mentioned.

Fire blight emerged as the top threat, with up to 20% of respondents identifying it as their most troublesome issue. The disease can kill apple trees and entire orchards and also damages pears, raspberries and other rose family plants.

Downy mildew was second, troubling 18% of growers, while powdery mildew ranked third at 16%. Anthracnose and scab each polled at 12.7%, phytophthora at 11%, and botrytis and bacterial spot at 7% each.

Bitter rot affected 4% of growers, but when combined with brown rot, soft rot, crown rot and leather rot, the rot category accounted for 25% of responses. Blights as a whole — including early blight, late blight, black rot, tomato blight, sclerotinia and cane blight — represented another 11%.

Fruit disease management concerns heading into 2025

Looking ahead, growers again named fire blight as their most concerning disease (12%), followed by powdery mildew and scab (11% each). Alternaria, anthracnose and downy mildew each ranked at 7%.

All rots combined accounted for 13% of responses, while blights as a category represented 7%. Other diseases troubling growers included fusarium, bacterial wilt, marssonina, sooty blotch, bacterial canker, X-disease, mummy berry in blueberries, and cranberry false bottom, among others.

Where growers seek management support

To strengthen their disease defenses, growers ranked preferred sources of information. University Extension personnel topped the list (55%), followed by crop protection companies and field reps (14%), other growers (11%) and industry magazines (9%). Social media, government resources, and trade shows and conventions each drew 4%.

When asked what publications could provide to help them with disease pressures, growers requested:

• New control materials
• Fungicide updates
• Affordable treatment options
• Resistance management strategies
• Resistant varieties
• Biological and conventional controls
• Organic controls
• Best management practices for downy mildew and tomato diseases
• Fertility insights for disease mitigation
• Optimal timing for chemical applications

Crop diversity among respondents

Apples, peaches, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, pears, grapes, nectarines, blackberries and raspberries all tied for seventh place among crops grown by survey participants. Other growers reported cultivating figs, rhubarb, citrus, pawpaw and currants, showing notable crop diversity.

Most respondents (71%) farmed fewer than 100 acres, with 16% operating 100 to 149 acres. All grew in open fields, while 24% also used high tunnels or hoop houses, 14% worked in greenhouses, and 7% grew hydroponically.

Fruit disease management remains a top priority

The survey highlights growers’ widespread concerns about pathogens and their reliance on timely information to protect crops. From fire blight in apples to mildew in grapes and rots in berries, effective fruit disease management strategies will remain central to sustaining yields and profitability in 2025 and beyond.

—  Doug Ohlemeier, Assistant Editor