NARBA publishes berry prices

The North American Raspberry and Blackberry Association recently conducted a survey to determine prices growers were getting for their fruit. Below is a summary of the vast amount of data that was collected. The prices ranged quite a bit and the data is presented by state, type of operation/customer base. For the full article in the Bramble newsletter, you need to become a member of NARBA. http://www.raspberryblackberry.org/local.cfm?doc=webdocs/memberbenefits.htm

Average prices for each berry type per unit

	PYO	Already picked
	per pint	per quart	per pound	per gallon	per half-pint	per pint	per quart	per pound	per gallon
Red Raspberries	$3.00	$5.38	$4.07	--	$3.90	$4.78	$8.43	$5.37	--
Black Raspberries	$2.63	$5.00	$3.86	--	$4.48	$4.41	$7.42	$5.67	--
Blackberries	$2.71	$4.42	$3.54	$12.72	$3.27	$4.64	$6.51	$5.06	$20.11

From the field: black raspberry harvest

Black raspberry harvest 8 June 2013, Jackson Springs NC.

So, after a long wet couple of days, we had a large harvest of black raspberries in Christine's black raspberry trial (see earlier post http://teamrubus.blogspot.com/2013/05/black-raspberry-research-in-nc-and-or.html). Each of these little jewels weighs about 1 gram, and each of these are gallon sized bags. So if there are 3 kg in a gallon, that would mean they (Christine, and her crew of 2) picked 14 bags X 3000 g = 42,000 berries in one day? (UPDATED DATA ABOVE, 1 gallon bag weighed less than we thought)

Black Raspberry Research in NC (and OR, NY and OH)

Hi everyone, I’m Christine Bradish and I’m a PhD student here in the Rubus breeding program at North Carolina State University.  My research is part of a national USDA-SCRI sponsored grant that is taking place in Oregon (USDA-ARS), Ohio (OSU), New York (Cornell), and here in North Carolina (NCSU), and is focused on improving black raspberries for disease and insect-resistance, wider production ranges, and increased market awareness.  Black raspberries are native to North America and have been cultivated since the late 19^th century; however diseases and a narrow gene pool has led to a severe decline in production over the last 75 years.  Currently, black raspberry production is focused in the Pacific Northwest and the berries are used in processed products, such as jams, jellies, ice creams, and baked goods.

Black raspberries harvested from Jackson Springs, NC on May 29, 2013.

As part of the project, we have identical plantings of 275 black raspberry plants at locations in all four states.  The fields were planted in April 2012, and will be evaluated through 2014.  My responsibility is to take data on approximately 40 different traits for each plant, ranging from heat tolerance and disease resistance to fruit size and thorn shape.  An example of the levels of a trait, fruit set is below. 

Measuring fertility of plants: poor fruit set (above)  versus fully fertile fruit (right). 

Yesterday was exciting, because we had our first harvest!  The fruit is as good as it looks. I along with the rest of the group of scientists involved in this research will be providing updates throughout this project, as we start to learn more about this exciting crop.

We have a website linked to this project: http://www.black-raspberries.com/aboutresearchers.html

Here is the USDA NIFA page: http://cris.nifa.usda.gov/cgi-bin/starfinder/0?path=fastlink1.txt&id=anon&pass=&search=R=49101&format=WEBFMT6NT

Scientists find aphid resistance in black raspberry

Here is a link to an article about research from the USDA-ARS group in Corvallis. Scientists find aphid resistance in black raspberry

This is the work that inspired our current black raspberry project. http://teamrubus.blogspot.com/2012/08/black-raspberry-project.html

Why is this research important? As they mention at the end of the article, aphids transmit viruses and viruses can be deleterious to plants.

We will be looking at black raspberry populations related to those in the USDA study back here in NC. Part of our task will be to look for additional traits that will be of economic importance. What will those traits be? Well, we are not sure at this time, we have lots of ideas and we will keep you posted!

Black Raspberry Project!

So, are you looking for a new and improved black raspberry? Here is a bit of background information on a project we are working on with several other researchers and extension specialists in the US. In NC we have a student that will be evaluating a mapping population in the field that may have heat and aphid resistance. 

Blackberry or black raspberry

This link found its way to me yesterday. People are often mistaking black raspberry and blackberry in the wild, gardens and local markets. Although there are many traits that help a Rubus expert distinguish the two apart, follow the pictures to the end of the link for an easy way to tell them apart. The fruit are very different. One is hollow (black raspberry) and the other is not (blackberry).

http://identifythatplant.com/blackberry-or-black-raspberry/

Spotted Wing Drosophila

As was the case last year, Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) is present throughout NC this year. We have been finding them in our research plots in blackberry and raspberry plantings. This year we also see them in black raspberry trials. This pest is a big deal, I urge you to check out Dr. Hannah Burracks blog to find out the latest information, including factsheets and spray schedules. http://ncsmallfruitsipm.blogspot.com/