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Northwest Berry Foundation

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Northwest Berry Foundation

The Northwest Berry Foundation strengthens the NW berry community through on-farm research, collecting and disseminating information, and reducing fruit waste.

MISSION:
The Northwest Berry Foundation strengthens the Northwest berry community through on-farm research, collecting and disseminating information, and coordinating the recovery of fruit that would otherwise go to waste. HOW IT WORKS:
On-Farm Research: The founders of the NBF and many of the board of directors are professionals within the commercial Northwest berry industry. One the foundation’

s main goals is to enable better coordination between the region’s many research scientists. This includes carrying out applied research, such as on-farm variety trials, that benefit all northwest berry growers. Collecting and Disseminating Information: In 2016, the NBF took over information links previously carried out by Peerbolt Crop Management. These resources include:
• The Small Fruit Update, a weekly newsletter for the Northwest berry industry that started in 2000 and is supported entirely by the region’s growers through their regional berry commissions.
• The Berriesnw.com website, which has provided berry community information for over 15 years. It is now the nwberriesfoundation.org website.
• Workshops for growers and industry support people.
• Other newsletters supporting the berry community. Coordinating efforts to recover fruit that would otherwise go to waste: In 2013, we started recovering fruit that is left in harvested fields because it isn’t economically viable to pick. We have partnered with other local food recovery and food distribution organizations, such as the Portland Fruit Tree Project and the Oregon Food Bank. Given the great community need for fresh, nutritious food and the significant amount of fruit going to waste each year, we’ll continue to expand this program.

08/27/2026

AI is becoming a bigger part of agriculture—but for growers, the question isn’t just what it can do. It’s whether the information is accurate, protected and useful in real field conditions.

This week’s Small Fruit Update commentary looks at the opportunities and concerns around using Pacific Northwest research to support AI tools, from plant identification to crop-specific decision support. The key takeaway: any technology used in production needs to be grounded in reliable research and reality-checked for growers.

Meanwhile, late-season harvest continues across the region. In Oregon, fresh blueberry harvest is nearly finished, SWD larvae are showing up in some caneberries, and strawberry growers are seeing occasional Cyclamen Mites and Strawberry Leafroller. In western Washington, raspberry training is underway as harvest shifts into post-season management.

What role do you think AI should play in helping growers access and use research?

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08/19/2026

Post-harvest management is taking center stage across the Willamette Valley.

Now is an important window for soil and leaf nutrient sampling, especially in caneberries and blueberries. Growers should collect representative samples from uniform areas of the field and sample problem areas separately. Young replanted sections may also need different water and nutrient management than established plants.

In the field, blueberry harvest is winding down, with Last Call showing good quality and some early floral bud development appearing. Finnberry is performing well through the heat, Triple Crown still has fruit remaining, and first-year Albion strawberries are showing a strong late-summer flush.

As harvest wraps up, keep an eye on new growth, nutrient needs and post-harvest field conditions.

More in this week’s Small Fruit Update. Link in bio 💪🏽

08/05/2026

Heat is helping reduce SWD pressure across the Willamette Valley, but late-season fruit still requires close attention.

Adult SWD counts dropped after July’s heat event, supported by dry conditions and fewer fields remaining in harvest. This week’s heat may reduce pressure further, but growers should continue monitoring late-season varieties and keep harvested fruit as cool as possible.

Regional highlights:
Blueberry harvest and storage remain active, with machine picking underway and Elliot, Aurora and several Rabbiteye varieties now coming on. Triple Crown harvest continues, while primocane raspberries are beginning to ripen. Strawberry harvest remains steady as growers prepare day-neutral plantings and finish renovation work in June-bearing fields.

Read the full commentary and regional reports for crop-by-crop updates for this week’s Small Fruit Update. Link in bio

07/29/2026

Harvest is moving quickly across the region, and protecting fruit quality remains the priority.

As picking intervals increase, fruit is exposed to more heat, rain and humidity—making timely harvest essential. SWD pressure also remains a concern, particularly where rejected or grade-out fruit is dumped near berry fields.

Regional highlights:

British Columbia is moving through Calypso, Draper, Bluecrop, Topshelf and Valor, with volumes expected to slow before late-season varieties begin. In Oregon, Last Call and Aurora harvest started earlier than expected, Triple Crown is producing heavily, and humidity has contributed to some Botrytis in caneberries. Strawberry growers are also seeing catfacing and early signs of heat-related plant stress.

Careful harvest planning, responsible fruit disposal and coordinated industry practices will help protect the Pacific Northwest’s reputation for high-quality berries.

For the full commentary and regional reports in this week’s Small Fruit Update, visit the link in our profile.

07/22/2026

Across the region, Duke harvest is winding down in British Columbia, with blueberry volumes still expected to fall short. Hot weather may temporarily reduce SWD pressure, but it could also affect fruit quality.

⚠️ That heat is also moving into Oregon, where temperatures are forecast to reach ~37°C/99°F. Growers should take precautions to protect crops, monitor fruit closely and prepare for potential heat stress. Oregon’s Calypso harvest is showing encouraging size and quality. Fresh prices have declined, while short processed-market quantities could help prices remain stable or increase.

In western Washington, early machine-picked Duke loads showed no SWD larvae, with preliminary yields up about 23% in one young field.

🫐 Blueberry growers: the USHBC continuance referendum closes July 24. Eligible producers and importers should submit their ballot electronically or by mail. Anyone who believes they are eligible but has not received a ballot should contact USDA AMS directly.

Read the full Small Fruit Update through the link in our profile for complete regional reports and upcoming field-day information.

07/16/2026

Growers are encouraged to check higher-risk areas—including field edges near wild habitat, post-harvest blocks, and locations with longer intervals between picks—and maintain tight management schedules.

Across the region, blueberry harvest is moving from Duke into Draper, Bluecrop, Legacy, Cargo and Liberty, while most raspberry and caneberry crops are now past peak. Volumes remain mixed, fruit softness continues to affect quality in some areas, and the first SWD-related fruit rejection has been reported in the Willamette Valley.

Read the full commentary and regional reports for crop-by-crop updates from British Columbia, Oregon and western Washington. Link in bio

05/27/2026

Well, I don’t think we can stick our heads in the sand any longer. Between the damp and moderate temperature forecast and hearing that the first processed strawberry loads of fruit coming in have had the occasional SWD larva found, I’d say that it’s proof that we’re on high alert for SWD 🫠

If you’d like to view the full Small Fruit Update newsletter and need additional resources for SWD identification and management, see link in bio.

05/04/2026

We’re just gonna leave this here for everyone who feels like it’s October and it’s barely May. You are validated. Keep on keeipin’ on 💪🏽🐝

04/29/2026

Small Fruit Update Week 18: April 29 2026

First harvest dates are beginning to swirl. It seems that many are hesitant due to the unpredictable weather conditions. We’ve already heard discussions about the June-bearing strawberry harvest starting in just three weeks, which feels kind of wild, but we are facing an earlier season this year. It appears we are experiencing a repeat of the 2021 crop cycle.

More in this week’s issue. Link in bio 💪🏽

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04/15/2026

Small Fruit Update Week 16: April 15, 2026

Preliminary catches of the first SWD traps were recorded last week, and unfortunately, the numbers were high. Given the mild winters we've experienced over the past two years, it’s not surprising that SWD populations have been able to thrive into the new season.

- https://mailchi.mp/nwberries.org/small-fruit-update-week-16-4-15-2026

Address

Portland, OR

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 1pm
Tuesday	10am - 1pm
Wednesday	10am - 1pm
Thursday	10am - 1pm
Friday	10am - 1pm

Telephone

+15032850908

Website

http://www.nwberryfoundation.org/

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