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Make Plans for the 2013 Blueberry Conference

The North Willamette Research and Extension Center and Oregon Blueberry Commission are hosting their Annual Blueberry Conference on January 29, 2013 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Portland, 1000 NE Multnomah Street. This event is being held in conjunction with the annual meetings of North American Strawberry Growers Association (NASGA) and North American Raspberry and Blackberry Association (NARBA) from January 27-30. There will be concurrent sessions on January 29 to provide opportunities for a wide range of topics for those wishing to attend different sessions. The conference includes a tradeshow with exhibitors from the local and national companies serving the blueberry industry.

The Blueberry Conference will cover current topics from blueberry markets to pest management. The current status of world blueberry production will be reviewed in detail with blueberry market analysis related to the Northwest blueberry industries.

Global blueberry production trends, product demand and export opportunities will be discussed. The outlook for future blueberry markets will be discussed based on sound supply chain and trade knowledge. National blueberry promotion activities and food safety related issues will be addressed by leading industry experts and U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC). The Oregon Blueberry Commission (OBC) will report its promotion and research activities to its members.

Final research findings from the OBC supported projects will be presented. These include irrigation and fertility management for quick plant establishment and certified organic blueberry production research. Current research in machine harvesting for fresh market berries will be discussed from harvester improvements to production system design. A review of the most up-to-date findings on spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) control will be presented with an Oregon focus. The SWD insecticides’ chemical properties and their field degradation in blueberries will be presented based on the most recent field research.

The Blueberry Conference will start at 9 a.m. with a buffet lunch served at noon. Social hour starts around 5 p.m. with a no-host bar. A banquet style dinner will be served after 6 p.m. with a dinner presentation discussing current breeding efforts in northern highbush blueberries. Because the Blueberry Conference is held in conjunction with NASGA and NARBA and at the same time as the Northwest Ag Show it is anticipated a large number of participants will be coming from other states. A block of rooms has been reserved in the Double Tree Hotel on a first come, first served basis. The hotel and conference registration information will be posted at the berrygrape.org website as soon as it’s available. Oregon growers will receive email alerts once conference information is posted.

Oregon Blueberry Commission • P.O. Box 3366 • Salem, Oregon 97302
Paid for by the Oregon Blueberry Commission, an agency of the State of Oregon.