Developing berry varieties for temperate growing regions
2007 Impact statement- Weber, Courtney A.
abstract
Improved crop varieties are required to remain competitive in the global economy. Agricultural resources are increasingly allocated to benefit the large producer. However, the growing movement towards consumption of locally grown produce has made small and medium sized farms profitable. The development of strawberry, raspberry and blackberry varieties adapted to temperate climates will help diversified growers remain profitable and competitive with large producers in tropical and subtropical climates.
submitted by
- Weber, Courtney A. | Associate Professor
issue being addressed
Fruit growers throughout New York are increasingly turning to diversified cropping systems in order to mitigate price and environmental risks inherent to large scale agriculture. Strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are an important option for today`s growers because they are some of the most profitable crops that can be grown in New York on a per acre basis with reported gross receipts of over $20,000/acre. Currently available varieties have weaknesses in yield potential, pest resistance, fruiting season and fruit quality characteristics that limit the market for New York growers. Improving these traits in new varieties for New York will allow growers to be more profitable, provide consumers with a higher-quality, more consistent product, and protect the environment of New York by reducing chemical pesticide use.
response
The small fruits breeding program at Geneva has been developing improved berry varieties for over 100 years. Breeding continues in strawberry, raspberry and blackberry with the evaluation of thousands of seedlings and selections annually for improved yield potential, fruit quality, and pest resistance. Additionally, advanced selections are being tested in 10 states and 7 foreign countries to evaluate performance over a wide range of climates. Currently, 3 strawberry selections and 6 raspberry selections are in the final stages of testing before commercial release. The most recent release of new strawberries was in 2003 with L`Amour and Clancy. New raspberry releases are anticipated in the near future. In addition, the inheritance and mechanisms of resistance to Phytophthora root rot, the most important raspberry disease worldwide, is being investigated with molecular techniques. The genomic regions responsible for resistance to this disease have been located and the identification and cloning of the corresponding genes is being pursued in order to more fully understand resistance to this disease.
impact assessment
There are currently 11 raspberry, 6 strawberry and 1 blackberry variety from the program that are commercially available. `Heritage` raspberry is the most widely planted primocane raspberry variety worldwide and `Royalty` is the most widely planted purple variety in the world. `Prelude` raspberry is the earliest fruiting summer variety available to growers in the eastern U.S. and `Encore` is the latest fruiting summer raspberry available. `Jewel` and `Bristol` are the most widely planted black raspberry varieties in the eastern U.S. `Jewel` and `Honeoye` strawberries are the most widely planted strawberries in New York and in the northeast U.S. L`Amour and Clancy are gaining market share in the region and are top sellers in the region.
Strawberries are the 3rd most valuable fruit in New York. About 4.4 million pounds were harvested in 2006 and returned $8.06 million to growers, which places New York 7th in national fresh market production with the highest average price in the nation. Raspberries brought in an estimated $4.8 million additionally. Much of the fruit was marketed directly by the 1500+ members of the New York State Berry Growers Association and New York State Farmers` Direct Marketing Association, thus providing significant income to a large percentage of New York`s growers.
Strawberries are the 3rd most valuable fruit in New York. About 4.4 million pounds were harvested in 2006 and returned $8.06 million to growers, which places New York 7th in national fresh market production with the highest average price in the nation. Raspberries brought in an estimated $4.8 million additionally. Much of the fruit was marketed directly by the 1500+ members of the New York State Berry Growers Association and New York State Farmers` Direct Marketing Association, thus providing significant income to a large percentage of New York`s growers.
academic priority area
- Land-Grant Mission | CALS academic priority
has geographic focus
- Mexico | country
- Spain | country
- Canada | country
- Chile | country
- United Kingdom | country
- Washington D.C. | federal district
- Delaware | state
- Ohio | state
- Nebraska | state
- New Jersey | state
- South Dakota | state
- Tennessee | state
- New Hampshire | state
- Connecticut | state
- Mississippi | state
- Massachusetts | state
- New York State | state
- California | state
- Michigan | state
- Kansas | state
- Wisconsin | state
- Colorado | state
- Alabama | state
- Virginia | state
- Pennsylvania | state
25 more
funding source description
- Hatch
- Smith-Lever 3(b) & (c)
- Unrestricted funds
collaborators
- Hargreaves Plants
- Ontario Berry Growers Association
- Stargow
- Nourse Farms, Inc.
- Sakuma Brothers Farms
- Royal Fruit Co.
- David Bardon, Blueberry Farms of Australia
- Marvin Pritts, Department of Horticulture
key personnel
- James Luby
- Chaim Kempler
- Marvin Pritts
- John Clark
- Greg Loeb
- Pat Moore
department, unit, division
- Horticultural Sciences at Geneva (HORT SCI) | Geneva department
mission focus
- extension/outreach | project type
- research | project type
From CALS annual faculty reporting. Imported on August 5, 2008