The Small Fruit Update

Recall we began circulating the 2025 Plant Sale numbers last month. When I noticed blackberry growers calling me I knew that something was amiss.

As we wrap up the year, here are a few important updates:

Recent flooding in various areas of the Pacific Northwest has raised concerns.

The numbers for the 2025 plant sale are now available!

The Small Fruit Update has successfully completed its 25th year, thanks to all the councils and commissions involved.

For more details, check inside this week’s update.

It’s pesticide license renewal time! We’ve had a few conferences at the end of the year with credit opportunities, most recently the excellent presentations at the Lynden Ag Show/Small Fruit Conference last week. Plenty more credit opportunities are available in the new year.

The Northwest Berry Foundation’s work benefits the entire PNW industry, highlighting the importance of collaboration. After hosting the NCSFR Conference, I recognized that such events not only update the industry on research but also celebrate these collaborative moments. A special thanks to the PNW berry industry!

We’ve enjoyed the benefits of dependable PNW weather forecasts delivered via email since 2008, especially from Rufus LaLone, who recently retired after an impressive 31 years. While we’ve received some alternative suggestions, they often lack straightforward, ‘no fluff’ predictions. If you have any recommendations, please don’t hesitate to email us.

With the American government still shut down and coordinating the Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research (NCSFR) in The Dalles, OR on Nov. 18-19, I’ve received plenty of questions as to how the conference might change if the government doesn’t open by conference time.

Remember the discussion last fall/winter about USHBC assessment changes? Based on feedback from last winter this discussion continues this fall.

We are thanking everyone of the growers, researchers, industry members, and sponsors that believed in and supported our efforts year after year. We never take for granted the individuals who keep the agricultural world thriving, and we are deeply thankful for our community.

We are getting into that time of year where we are starting to see the weather shift on the horizon while there is still plenty field work to complete. It’s hard to have that one last push of effort after months of daily grind getting the crop off when you understandably just want to bask in the accomplishment of!