Blueberries

New(er) berry crop herbicides

Some new herbicides, or in some cases, new formulations, have become available for use in berry crops in the last few years. Here is a summary of these additions. Devrinol Devrinol (napropamide) is a pre-emergent... more »

Good fertilizer programs enhanced by drip methods

Many blueberry fields are irrigated by drip. A major advantage of drip is the ability to fertigate. Fertigation is the practice of applying soluble fertilizers to the plants directly through the irrigation water. “It is... more »

Customized Brokers to clear perishables entering port of Charleston

Customized Brokers , Crowley Maritime Corp.’s Miami-based subsidiary specializing in Customs clearance of imported perishable apparel and refrigerated products, said it could begin clearing certain produce requiring cold-treatment from Peru, Uruguay and Argentina into the Port of... more »

USHBC seeks nominees for state member positions

Members of the highbush (cultivated) blueberry industry are now seeking nominees to fill U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) state member and alternate positions for the 2017 to 2019 term. The nomination period will begin on... more »

Maine blueberry growers ask USDA to buy 30 million surplus pounds

The Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine has requested that the USDA purchase 30 million surplus pounds of frozen wild blueberries. The Maine congressional delegation wrote a letter to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Fruit and... more »

Creating a gentler, more profitable way to harvest blueberries

Although automation in agriculture is often synonymous with efficiency, that has not been the case with harvesting and processing berries. That is about to change. Automated berry processing systems often damage the fruit, which results... more »

Michigan blueberry interests ponder commission, funding arm

Michigan is expected to remain among the nation’s top blueberry production states, with projections for a 72 million pound yield in 2015, according to the North American Blueberry Council. Some growers want to assure the... more »

Warm winter puts Georgia crops at risk

Georgia growers fear losses for the pecan harvest and early blooms for blueberries and peaches if temperatures don’t drop soon. Heavy rains in December drowned pecan orchards, and the warm winter weather is shortening the... more »