Goodbye and Thank you!

By Bernadine Strik, Professor, Department of Horticulture and Berry Crops Research Leader at the NWREC, Oregon State University

When I was provided an opportunity to say goodbye to the blueberry industry in this way, I had mixed feelings – it’s hard to say goodbye and I haven’t retired quite yet. I do appreciate the opportunity to thank you all and share some things that have been important over my 34+ years at Oregon State University.

I started my position as a Small Fruits Extension Specialist at OSU in September 1987. I was finishing up my Ph.D. at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada and the job appealed to me for several reasons including my passion for berries, moving back to the West Coast region I love, and in particular having a job where I could work closely with industry. I grew up on a farm and wanted a position that included working with growers to help them be more successful. While I started this job working in Extension for berries and wine grapes, my position changed quickly thereafter, at my request, to include teaching undergraduate and graduate students. Then in 1992, I was asked to serve as the Berry Crops Research Leader at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center (when Dr. Lloyd Martin left this role). Since then, my position has focused on Extension, research and teaching of berry crops.

Bernadine Strik examining a blueberry trial in 2002.

While I missed working with wine grape growers, this industry had grown considerably leading to a separate position for wine grape Extension and research (now Dr. Patty Skinkis). I still include table grapes in my crop palette. Becoming the Berry Crops Research Leader at the NWREC offered greater opportunities for research, which I clamored for, and made me the OSU lead on the USDA-ARS Cooperative Berry Crops Breeding Program. As part of that program, I worked very closely with Dr. Chad Finn (1993-2019), whom I miss greatly, and now Dr. Michael Hardigan (new caneberry breeder) and Dr. Claire Luby (new blueberry breeder). I’ve been very fortunate to have collaborated with many other excellent scientists at the USDA-ARS Hort Crops Research Unit, particularly Dr. David Bryla, and those at OSU with specialties in pest management, soils and nutrition, as well as Extension colleagues based on campus and in the counties.

Oregon is a great place to work on berry crops because of our ideal climate to produce high quality and yield of blueberries, blackberries, black and red raspberries, cranberries, strawberries and kiwiberries, but also for the wonderful growers, packers of fresh and processed fruit, advisors, nurseries and other companies. Industry funding for high-priority research through assessments collected by our commodity commissions is the best in the USA, in my opinion. Like most scientists, I have informed my research program through industry priorities, ideas I’ve run by industry leaders that I feel are worth testing to affect change and funding available.

There have been tremendous changes in blueberry production systems worldwide over the last three-and-a-half decades. Oregon and Washington now produce the largest volume of blueberries in the nation. Organic production has increased exponentially with the largest volumes in the world coming from our region. Here, in-row spacing has tightened increasing the number of plants per acre from 871–1,089 (4 to 5 feet apart) to 1,452–1,742 (2.5 to 3 feet apart). These higher-density plantings achieve mature yields faster increasing grower returns. The palette of cultivars grown has broadened to achieve target markets.

Most farms are drip irrigated and some have dual systems including overhead micro-sprinklers for frost protection or evaporative cooling – the latter system was a large benefit to some this year. While sawdust is still used as an in-row mulch, weed mat is now most common to reduce weed management costs. Fertilization, particularly with nitrogen, has become more efficient due to either lower rates used, better timing of application or both. With the popularity of drip irrigation systems, fertigation to apply nitrogen is typical. Organic growers are applying lower rates of some fertilizer products, saving costs, and have more products to choose from. Machine harvesting has become common-place with pruning and production systems altered to improve recovered yield and quality. In particular, trellises to maintain an upright canopy, and pruning for a narrow crown and to promote fruiting at the periphery of the canopy. Our growers are considered some of the best in the world at winter pruning.

My program has been very well funded by industry through the commodity commissions, in-kind and gift contributions and other grants. These funds have helped support great Faculty Research Assistants who work(ed) with me in the Berry Research Program, currently Amanda Davis (production/physiology) and Pat Jones (Cooperative Breeding Program at NWREC). I’m also proud to have trained and advised 22 graduate students and many undergraduates who are either pursuing more advanced degrees, working as faculty or are in industry positions.

I am proud of the research I’ve done, often in collaboration with growers, and how the findings from these trials have led to many of these significant changes seen in the industry. We also have internationally recognized Extension or outreach materials like our publications and the online Blueberry Production and Physiology Course and the blueberry pruning training module offered through Professional and Continuing Education at OSU (https://workspace.oregonstate.edu/course/pruning-blueberries).

I take great pride in knowing I’ve played a role in affecting significant change in the industry, thus having a positive impact on economic success for growers and associated companies. I will miss working closely with you all after I retire. I wish you all continued success and joy!