Blueberries
Washington’s organic blueberries growing more profitable
From 2009 to 2012, organic blueberry acreage in Washington state increased by 130 percent, while production tripled. In the same period, the farm-gate value of the state’s organic blueberries rose from $7 million to $23... more »
What to do about SWD-infested fruit?
The SWD monitoring network Counties are all positive for SWD as of last week, Aug. 28. A lot of SWD are being caught in traps in research sites now with population numbers expected to climb... more »
Powdery mildew on blueberries – not symptoms you’d expect
Powdery mildew, a warm-weather high-humidity disease, is present in some blueberry plantings. Lowbush, highbush, and rabbiteye blueberries are all affected. Symptoms on blueberries are different from those on most other plants, and could be mistaken... more »
Naturipe seeks a new blueberry harvester
Naturipe Farms is taking matters into its own hands concerning the blueberry industry’s need to improve harvest technology. The blueberry grower and marketer is challenging “creative technology minds” to innovate a better way to harvest blueberries.... more »
Wish Farms expands its Argentina blueberry program
Wish Farms announced that its Argentina blueberry program is projected to double in volume over last season. The Argentina blueberry season will span from the beginning of October to the end of November and will segue... more »
New certifications combat nursery tree viruses, costs
Fruit tree viruses cost growers and producers thousands of dollars each year, and increased expenses often get passed down to the consumer. New standards to test for viruses in fruit trees and small fruit in... more »
The Future of Farming: Over-the-row cherry harvester
Farmers have the same goal: harvest the highest quality fruit in the most efficient way. When it comes to cherries, it’s not the easiest task, but the way the fruit is picked continues to evolve.Don... more »
Fruit Crop Guesstimate shows winter’s impact
Coming off back-to-back winters that challenged Michigan growers, industry leaders gathered June 24 to guess the size of 2015’s fruit crops. “We’ve experienced two harsh winters in a row and we’re also continuing to experience... more »