Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Raspberry and Blackberry Grades and Standards

While searching for other statistics on caneberries, I came across this information that some of you may be interested in browsing as you enter the harvest season. The USDA has grades and standards for the quality rating of raspberries and blackberries.  The raspberry grades/standards were established in 1931 and blackberry in 1928.

Below are grades and standards for both crops, the actual grades/standards allowed by some shipping companies can be more restrictive, eg. no white drupelets. Local markets rarely follow these standards (at least I have not seen them). If you would like more information, the original  links can be found at:

https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/fresh-dewberries-and-blackberries-grades-and-standards
https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/raspberries-grades-and-standards

Fresh Dewberries and Blackberries Grades and Standards


Grades of Fresh Dewberries and Blackberries

  1. U.S. No. 1 consists of dewberries or blackberries of one variety which are firm, well colored, well developed and not overripe, which are free from caps (calyxes), mold and decay, and from damage caused by dirt or other foreign matter, shriveling, moisture, disease, insects, mechanical or other means.
a.    Tolerances. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, not more than 10 percent, by volume, of the berries in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, including therein not more than 5 percent for defects causing serious damage, and including in this latter amount not more than 1 percent for berries which are affected by mold or decay.
  1. U.S. No. 2 consists of dewberries or blackberries of one variety which fail to meet the requirements of the U.S. No. 1 grade but which do not contain more than 10 percent, by volume, of berries in any lot which are seriously damaged by any cause, including therein not more than 2 percent for berries which are affected by mold or decay.
  2. Unclassified consists of dewberries or blackberries which have not been classified in accordance with either of the foregoing grades. The term "unclassified" is not a grade within the meaning of these standards but is provided as a designation to show that no grade has been applied to the lot.

Detailed standards, Inspection Instructions & Other Resources:


Raspberries Grades and Standards


Grades of Raspberries

  1. U.S. No. 1 consists of raspberries of one variety which are well colored, well developed and not soft, overripe, or broken; which are free from cores, sunscald, mold, and decay, and from damage caused by dirt or other foreign matter, shriveling, moisture, disease, insects, mechanical or other means.
a.    Tolerances. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, not more than 10 percent, by volume, of the berries in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, including therein not more than 5 percent for defects causing serious damage, and including in this latter amount not more than 1 percent for berries which are affected by mold or decay.
  1. U.S. No. 2 consists of raspberries of one variety which fail to meet the requirements of the U.S. No. 1 grade but which do not contain more than 10 percent, by volume, of berries in any lot which are seriously damaged by any cause, including therein not more than 2 percent for berries which are affected by mold or decay.
  2. Unclassified consists of raspberries which have not been classified in accordance with either of the foregoing grades. The term "unclassified'' is not a grade within the meaning of these standards but is provided as a designation to show that no grade has been applied to the lot.

Detailed standards, Inspection Instructions & Other Resources:

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Blackberry pricing

Please help the North American Raspberry and Blackberry Association determine pricing of fruit for this upcoming harvest season. See the message below from their Executive Secretary Debby Wechsler. Click on the link at the end of her message for the short questionnaire. She will publish these prices as she always does in the summer issue of "The Bramble".  Please respond by May 31st!

Dear Growers: 

What are your berry prices this year? The North American Raspberry & Blackberry Association is surveying growers about their raspberry & blackberry pricing for 2016. We are especially interested in prices for pick-your-own and retail (eg on-farm and at farmers markets). We will also report local wholesale prices (such as to stores and restaurants) if you provide them. If you don't know your 2016 prices yet, you can just provide your 2015 prices or best estimates.

As we did last year, we will report the results in the June issue of our newsletter. We will also share the report with all non-members who participate in the survey.

The more growers who participate, the more useful the survey is, so feel free to share this message and link with other raspberry & blackberry growers, especially those who direct-market at least some of their berries to consumers. 
Click here for the questionnaire. Please respond by May 31st!

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Blackberry flowering

Blackberries are in full bloom or beyond at the Piedmont Research Station today. Here are some shots  taken from the RCA trellis plots. All cultivars have some flower kill as can be seen by the black dots in the centers of the flowers. Flowers with those blackened centers will not develop into fruit. We will take viable flower counts next week.
Apache

Oucahita

Von