Raspberries & Blackberries
New raspberry council formed
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently appointed 23 representatives to serve on the first Processed Raspberry Council. Members and their alternates will fulfill staggered terms of two or three years on the council, according to USDA.Six... more »
New invasive fruit fly discovered in Pennsylvania
Zaprionus indianus Gupta, commonly known in Brazil as the African fig fly (AFF), is an invasive species that was recently found in Pennsylvania for the first time, according to Penn State University.First discovered by the... more »
SWD doing significant damage to berries
Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) hit Michigan hard in 2012. Worst off were fall red raspberry growers, who had to deal with wormy berries and customer complaints. Some decided to stop growing raspberries altogether, said Rufus... more »
New varieties diversify blueberry offerings
Anyone who grows backyard blueberries knows that some of the berries may turn pink before they finally ripen to a familiar dusty blue. When a Pink Lemonade blueberry is ripe and ready to eat, however,... more »
Group asks for input about Spotted Wing Drosophila
The Northeast IPM Spotted Wing Drosophila Working Group (headed up by Greg Loeb at Cornell Univ.), is gathering information on the level crop damage that occurred on grower farms in the Northeastern U.S.Please take five... more »
Cider apples might work for Washington growers
Where can hard cider connoisseurs roam the countryside, traveling from estate to estate and sampling the artisan crafts of local producers? Western Washington will be the venue for such activity, if Washington State University (WSU)... more »
Consumers in the East want local berries
The buy-local movement is still boosting berry sales, especially for growers in the East. And despite all the growth in farm market, farmers’ market and CSA sales, there’s still room for more, according to sources.... more »
SWD guidelines for management and control in berry production
The 2012 fruit growing season is nearing conclusion almost a month ahead of previous years due to unusual climatic conditions that prevailed for most of the growing season. In addition to the problems created by... more »
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