Blueberries
Disease management considerations for winter-injured blueberries
With winter injury hitting blueberries hard in 2015, it is easy to contemplate giving up on some fields altogether. If you have decided to forego harvest because there is not enough fruit to justify harvesting,... more »
Dwindling options force more growers to use H-2A program
For years, agricultural employers and their advocates have been complaining about the state of the H-2A guest-worker program: It’s too expensive. There’s too much paperwork. It’s not flexible enough. And so on. Many hoped that... more »
Blueberry council seeking to expand membership
The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) recently submitted requested changes to its order which will allow for wider representation and clarification of a number of its administrative functions. At the USHBC meeting last fall, the... more »
Revitalize blueberries with renovation
Blueberries have a distinct growth habit. Each spring new shoots emerge from the crown at the base of the plant. These shoots grow quickly the first couple years when they are young. They then start... more »
New WSU researcher to focus on tree fruit diseases
A new faculty member at the Washington State University Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center will focus on diseases in fruit after it is harvested – like gray mold that afflicts otherwise appetizing strawberries and... more »
Fruit Crop Guesstimate to be held June 24
The 60th Annual Fruit Crop Guesstimate, sponsored by the Michigan Frozen Food Packers Association (MFFPA), will be held at 2:30 p.m. June 24 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan.The Guesstimate provides... more »
Contest planned to find blueberry harvester
Naturipe wants to hear from innovators, developers and technology integrators who have ideas for a fully functional industrial prototype of an automated blueberry harvester.Although “The Blue Challenge” is a few weeks away from an official... more »
The challenges of disease control during rainy spells
While relatively dry, cool conditions in early spring may have delayed pathogen development, recent warm, wet conditions mean that fungal and bacterial diseases are getting a jump start. This even applies to powdery mildews, which... more »