 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Blueberries”
By Oscar Liburd and Doug Phillips Over the past few years, chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis) have become the most important insect pest of Florida blueberries, causing substantial injury to plant foliage and typically requiring significant and costly chemical control measures. Chilli thrips have been an economically important pest of vegetable, fruit and ornamental crops throughout Asia, Africa, Oceania the Caribbean …
By A. Malek Hammami and Zhengfei Guan The United States is a major blueberry producer. The value of production in 2021 reached $1.1 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (USDA ERS). USDA statistics show that total U.S. blueberry production in 2022 was 622 million pounds. The Pacific Northwest states of Oregon and Washington lead in …
By Gerardo H. Nunez Long gone are the days when blueberries were a seasonal product. Nowadays, blueberries are available at the grocery store year-round thanks to innovations in plant breeding and a flood of imported fruit. This is changing the scenario for blueberry growers in the Southeast. Suddenly, growing fruit for the early spring market is not enough. The market …
By Gerardo H. Nunez Long gone are the days when blueberries were a seasonal product. Nowadays, blueberries are available at the grocery store year-round thanks to innovations in plant breeding and a flood of imported fruit. This is changing the scenario for blueberry growers in the Southeast. Suddenly, growing fruit for the early spring market is not enough. The market …
By Leonard Park The Florida blueberry season that began in the summer of 2022 culminated in one of the smallest spring harvests in years. The main culprit was Hurricane Ian. However, the lack of chill hours in December, followed by two harsh cold snaps over the holidays, affected other regions with damaged flower buds and crop delays. For most growers, …
By Frank Giles Ryan Atwood, co-owner of Amber Brooke Farms, has become a leading voice in Florida’s blueberry industry. He’s been an advocate for trade protection and has encouraged growers to innovate to stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving market. We asked Atwood to provide some insights into the current blueberry environment. He says he’s hoping for …
By Clint Thompson Labor remains a contentious issue for specialty crop producers in the Southeast. It will be highlighted during the upcoming Florida Blueberry Growers Association Conference and Trade Show. “It’s a topic with some really high interest among growers,” said Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator. It has been widely …
By Clint Thompson One of the largest and most productive blueberry growers in Georgia is concerned about the obstacles that will challenge his ability to remain sustainable in the future. That is why Kevin Eason voices his concerns to those who will listen. He aims to educate legislative leaders about the issues that challenge his sustainability as a farmer. Eason …
By Clint Thompson Blueberry producers should mark their calendars for Wednesday, Oct. 25, for the annual Florida Blueberry Growers Association Fall Conference and Trade Show at Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland, Florida. Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator, discussed the significance of the meeting this fall and why producers and industry …
By Clint Thompson Blueberry producers should mark their calendars for Wednesday, Oct. 25, for the annual Florida Blueberry Growers Association Fall Conference and Trade Show at Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland, Florida. Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) blueberry Extension coordinator, discussed the significance of the meeting this fall and why producers and industry …
