We’ve just found our first SWD larvae in Kotata blackberry fruit. This field had consistently high adult trap catches for weeks prior to the larvae infestation and was in a hot spot location.

As expected, SWD larvae have been found in the usual caneberry hotspots. We knew the time wasn’t going to be long considering…

Why does it feel like harvest creeps up, even on delayed years like this? This week is heavy with overlapping strawberry, blueberry, and raspberry harvests.

My youngest daughter tagged along for a quick farm visit last week because holiday childcare was inconsistent.

Why does it feel like the entire summer so far has been hot when in reality, it’s only been a handful of days?!

Fruit is coming off, and preliminary reports are that strawberry yields are about average. It’s too early to tell for other fruits but blueberries..

You may or may not have seen the ISHS Rubus and Ribes Symposium touring around NW Washington and Oregon Willamette Valley over the last couple days.

There was a mixed bag of weather related plant/fruit reactions around the region last week. Obviously time will tell but…

How about this weather?! I’ve been holding on to my cold/wind/snow/freezing rain weather report when talking to my Central Canadian family, because I just can’t compete with the freezing temps happening there.

Many growers have just worked through certifying their farms for food safety practices. It’s an additional cost of having to do business.

Insect dynamics/pressures adjust each year. For example, thus far I’ve been hearing mostly positive things about SWD pressure this season

We are in the first stretch of moderate weather we’ve had for several weeks. I hate to say it but this weather combo + final picks hanging longer for machine harvest = populations increasing exponentially.