Sweet Opportunity
Oregon’s world-renowned berry industry adds over $140M to local economies, and there are more job openings in berry production than graduates to fill them.
Check out a video from OSU's 2024 Blueberry Field Day, highlighting the public-private partnerships focused on ag technology and helping farms move into the future!
Research
We search for ways to diversify crops, products, markets, and value-added enterprises to keep profits on the farm and in rural communities. Collaborative partnerships and interdisciplinary research with industry leaders, the USDA Northwest Center for Small Fruit Research (NCSFR), and the OSU- USDA Cooperative Berry Crop Breeding Program have benefited industries in the Pacific Northwest, the U.S., and the world.
Click on Our Research to find out more about our current and past projects.
Click on Resources for Extension Publications, Economics, and other information for growers
Click on People to see who we collaborate with and the broad scope of resesarch being done in berry crops
Credit Courses
Students learn berry production within the context of plant biology and genetics, soils, ecology, and economics with applications in plant nutrition, pest management, business, and marketing. Learning to manage real- world dilemmas with case studies, field trips, and internships encourages students to interact with growers, managers, field reps, and consultants. Student-run clubs provide opportunities for leadership and extracurricular activities.
HORT 251 Temperate Tree Fruit, Berries, Grapes, and Nuts
HORT 456 Physiology and Production of Berry Crops (Ecampus)
HORT 556 Physiology and Production of Berry Crops (Ecampus)
Non-Credit Courses
A series of courses covering a variety of pruning methods and techniques for blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, kiwifruit and grapes is available through Oregon State University's Professional and Continuing Education (PACE). You can take any of these courses individually or take them all to become a pruning master!
Pruning and Training of Berries, Kiwifruit, and Grapes
Extension
Our research is used to create and update extension publications available at the OSU Extension Catalog. To access the berry crop publications, click on "Agriculture", then "Berries and Grapes."
We host 3 field days each year at the North Willamette Research & Extension Center in Aurora, OR to highlight our research and the work being done by others in the region, as well as to see and taste the latest advanced selections from the breeding program. 2025 field days will be announced in Spring!
In the News
Less management, more yield for Oregon blackberry growers
Farmer wisdom on blackberry maintenance — or the lack thereof — is being backed with evidence.Many growers are turning to “new-over-old”...
Does Mulch Make a Difference for Better Blueberry Crops?
Learn about the results of OSU's long-term research on mulches in organic and conventional blueberry production systems. (Growing Produce)
Bernadine Strik and Berry program win 2022 Outstanding Extension Publication from ASHS
Bernadine Strik, Amanda Davis, Patrick Jones, and Chad Finn were awarded the 2022 Outstanding Extension Publication from the American Society...
A new star may be rising in Oregon’s blackberry fields
The next great Oregon blackberry may be growing in the demonstration plots at Oregon State University’s North Willamette Research and Extension...
Prepare for the luscious taste of homegrown blueberries: Gardening basics
Put blueberry plants in now for a great crop of sweet, healthful fruit in the future.
Three categories of blueberry plants are best-...