State of the Washington

Blueberry Industry

Alan Schreiber, Executive DirectorWashington Blueberry CommissionEltopia, Washington

The Washington Blueberry Commission

The WBC was formed in 1969, making it one of the oldest commodity commissions in the state.

Commissioners are Bryan Sakuma (Burlington), Andy Enfield (Lynden), Brenton Roy (Prosser), Todd Van Mersbergen (Lynden), Rob Dhaliwal (Everson), Leif Olson (Prosser) and Rebecca Webber (WSDA, Richland).

The Washington blueberry industry is in the midst of a dramatic period of growth and change.

I have been saying this for five years.

The Washington Blueberry Commission is trying to develop programming activities to change with it.

So how much did Washington produce this year?

As of today, Washington has collected assessments on 98.5 million pounds. One grower has an assessment coming in with about 2 million pounds.

We have a group of small growers that collectively produced about 500,000 pounds in 2015 that have not yet paid.

We easily have 1 or 2 million pounds of blueberries that we do not collect assessments on.

I am saying Washington produced at least 102 million pounds in 2015.

N. A. Highbush Blueberry ProductionRegion millions of pounds

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015Michigan 88 91 110 100 107 71 87 115 97 72B.C. 62 73 75 89 90 95 115 105 152 152Oregon 34 44 44 47 50 65 75 80 86 90Washington 18 28 29 38 39 60 70 80 96 102Georgia 21 11 31 39 56 59 71 68 96 85New Jersey 50 50 53 47 40 61 51 65 55 45North Carolina 25 14 28 34 42 37 40 39 48 48California 10 16 14 24 25 42 43 51 55 60Florida 17 25Mexico 23 27All other states 24 27 27 32 36 69 36 38 23 38 Total 334 356 413 450 488 559 589 640 745 723

Washington produces more processed blueberries than any other state.

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 %

Fresh 4.5 5.5 4.9 10.0 16.0 16 18 20 29 25 24Processed 13.9 22.8 24.1 28.0 18.8 44 52 60 67 77 76

Totals 18.4 28.3 29.0 38.0 34.8 60 70 80 96 102

More than 5 million pounds of berries went from fresh to processed or from IQF quality to dried, juice, puree or concentrate due to heat.

The future of the Washington blueberry industry. Whatcom County is the leading producer of blueberries; a 2014 survey

of blueberry acres showed the county had at least 6,000 acres of blueberries, a record number; a third of acres are 4 years old or younger.

25% of acreage in eastern Washington was not at full capacity by the end of 2015. Yields are 20,000 to 25,000 pounds per acre at maturity, even for organic fields.

Washington is the leading producer of organic blueberries.

Planting continues, with Snohomish and Skagit counties leading in new acres, followed by Whatcom, Franklin and Benton counties.

In 2014 and 2015, more than 4,000 acres are being planted, mostly in north west Washington but also in Benton and Franklin counties.

1This assumes full production at maturity, which would be defined at 2020.These are projections and assume somewhat ideal conditions and that nofields are removed from production.

Does not include production from post 2015 plantings.

Projected production in 2020, assuming all plantings planted as of 2015 are fully bearing.

Estimated Washington Blueberry Production in 2020

Planted Estimated Estimated

Location Acres Yield/acre Production Fresh2 Processed2E. Washington 4500 15000 67,500,000 33,750,000 33,750,000 Whatcom 6000 10000 60,000,000 12,000,000 48,000,000 Skagit 3000 10000 30,000,000 15,000,000 15,000,000 Lewis 350 10000 3,500,000 2,625,000 875,000 Snohomish 1500 10000 20,000,000 2,250,000 20,250,000 Other 1200 8000 9,600,000 4,800,000 4,800,000

16550 12,000 190,600,000 70,425,000 122,675,000

Assumes no plantings removed.

Assumes plantingstops in 2015.

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28 2938 39

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2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020

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Washington Blueberry Production Projection

Production estimate for 2016 Who knows. Foolish to predict next year’s yield. However,…. Assuming minimal winter injury Assuming normal pollination Assuming no drought Assuming no excessive high temperatures. 112 to 115 million pounds, Our original prediction for 2015 in April was 110

million lbs. 130 million pounds in 2017

What is the WBC doing with your assessments?

Our assessment is $8 per ton or .4 cents per pound, by the way, the lowest blueberry assessment in the U.S..

The Washington blueberry industry is expanding and the Commission is expanding proportionally.

We have created committees for Research, Promotions and Export and Food Safety and Labor.

We have a small, in-state fresh promotion program.

Research will continue to be the leading focus; about half of assessment dollars go to research.

Promotions Bear in mind that the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council

has a the money and is THE entity to handle national and international marketing, promotions and generic research

Focus is on promoting fresh, in-season, in-state blueberries: may try to expand efforts supporting farmers markets and u-pick operations.

We have a contract with a Seattle public relations company.

We provide farmers market promotional materials and about 30% of all growers in the state used the program.

If you have U-Pick or roadside stand, we can help you. Superblues.net

Research Roughly 48% of WBC funds support research.

The Research Committee sets priorities, ranks proposals and makes recommendations to the full Commission.

15 (out of 22) projects were funded in 2014 ($150,000), up from 4 in 2007 ($17,000).

2015 15 projects (out of 29) were funded for $185,000.

Leighton Overson is the Chair of the Research Committee.

Proposal # $$$$$$$$$$$ Rank2015-19 How to Meet MRLs When Applying SWD Schreiber/ ADG 19,000$ 3.42015-16 Developing Organic Controls for SWD in Schreiber/ ADG 14,600$ 4.32015-13 Determining Blueberry Cold Hardiness in Hoheisel/ WSU 23,000$ 5.42015-17 New Products and Resistance Managem Schreiber/ ADG 5,000$ 5.82015-08 Biology and control of blueberry Mummyb Peever/ WSU 18,000$ 6.92015-10 Targeted applications of "foliar" calcium f Strik / OSU 11,000$ 8.22015-03 Evaluating the role of boron in enhancing DeVetter / WSU 4,983$ 10.12015-18 Control of Mummy Berry in Organic Blueb Schreiber/ ADG 5,000$ 10.62015-06 Testing of several herbicides for weed co Miller/ WSU 5,853$ 11.02015-24 Blueberry tissue nutrient standards for Ea Davenport/WSU 28,000$ 11.42015-15 Blueberry Research and Demonstration S Schreiber/ ADG 9,000$ 14.02015-02 Relating honey bee activity to yield in Wa DeVetter / WSU 6,000$ 16.92015-12 Developing commerical blueberry cultivar Finn/ USDA 20,000$ 14.12015-27 Assessing Blueberry Virus Risks in Wash Martin et al./USDA 10,637$ 14.2

180,073$

2015 WBC Research ProposalsTitle Researcher/Instit.

2015 Funded Blueberry Research Projects

We funded a 15th project trying to develop a food safety kill step for blueberries.

2015-01 Extending the blueberry spray interval wit Tanigoshi / WSU 11,657$ 2015-26 Microbial Communities in Highbush Blueb Zhu/WSU 26,673$ 2015-20 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) for Mit Karkee/ WSU 7,120$ 2015-14 Blueberry cultivar and selection evaluatio Finn/ USDA 8,400$ 2015-05 Calcium applications and the reduction of DeVetter / WSU 8,634$ 2015-22 Monitoring Townsend’s Voles (Microtus to Ransome/ DBR 6,000$ 2015-23 Lowering and Maintaining Soil PH bluebe Davenport/WSU 14,733$ 2015-21 Practices to Reduce Heat Damage in Hig Bryla/USDA 6,655$ 2015-09 Developing a understanding of the physio Strik / OSU 6,985$ 2015-11 Root to shoot ratio in blueberry cultivar- i Strik / OSU 13,790$ 2015-07 Timing of phenological stages of highbush Peever/ WSU 14,291$ 2015-04 Evaluating traditional pruning strategies a DeVetter / WSU 9,287$ 2015-25 Assessment of Application Technologies Hoheisel/ WSU 18,478$

152,703$

Blueberry Projects Not Funded in 2015

Sheet1

2015 WBC Research Proposals

Proposal #TitleResearcher/Instit.$$$$$$$$$$$BerendsenWaddlePeerboltDonMckayOversonOliverHillBajemaAldrichTotalRank

2015-19How to Meet MRLs When Applying SWD Insecticides – Year 3Schreiber/ ADG$ 19,000$ 19,00013138110313343.4

2015-16Developing Organic Controls for SWD in Blueberries – Year 3Schreiber/ ADG$ 14,600$ 14,6003472427275434.3

2015-13Determining Blueberry Cold Hardiness in Washington Hoheisel/ WSU$ 23,000$ 23,00051516511425545.4

2015-17New Products and Resistance Management Strategies for Mummyberry and Botrytis in Conventional Blueberries.Schreiber/ ADG$ 5,000$ 12,750411691541332585.8

2015-08Biology and control of blueberry Mummyberry and Fungicide Resistance Peever/ WSU $ 18,000$ 18,000274533615222696.9need to include weedmat

2015-10Targeted applications of "foliar" calcium fertilizers to fruit to increase fruit firmness and shelf-life for fresh marketStrik / OSU$ 11,000$ 11,00014143421636164828.2

2015-03Evaluating the role of boron in enhancing fruit set of highbush blueberryDeVetter / WSU$ 4,983$ 4,983823282010886810110.1

2015-18Control of Mummy Berry in Organic Blueberries – Year TwoSchreiber/ ADG$ 5,000$ 5,00061291474221651110610.6Prorate this down

2015-06Testing of several herbicides for weed control and crop safety in newly-planted blueberry Miller/ WSU $ 5,853$ 5,853710811107112291511011.0

2015-24Blueberry tissue nutrient standards for Eastern Washington Production Davenport/WSU$ 28,000$ 28,0001621171411147151711411.4Would like to see some of this work in Western & Eastern washingtion

2015-15Blueberry Research and Demonstration Site in Eastern WashingtonSchreiber/ ADG$ 9,000$ 9,00015171412914239141314014.0Work needs to be done--No Rank:Board needs to decided if they want a breeding program. If yes it needs to be a line item in the yearly budget

2015-02Relating honey bee activity to yield in Washington highbush blueberry DeVetter / WSU$ 6,000$ 6,00011201721218201982416916.9

2015-12Developing commerical blueberry cultivars adapted to the Pacific Northwest and that may tolerate blueberry shock virusFinn/ USDA$ 20,000$ 20,00025151552091217912714.1

2015-27Assessing Blueberry Virus Risks in Washington: Blueberry Scorch, Shock, Fruit Drop and Tomato Ringspot, and Surveys of Washington Blueberry Fields for AphidsMartin et al./USDA$ 10,637$ 10,637178121611221518131014214.2Work needs to be done--No Rank:Board needs to decided if they want a breeding program. If yes it needs to be a line item in the yearly budget

$ 180,073

2015-01Extending the blueberry spray interval with Danitol and new tank mix combinations, including early season IGRs Tanigoshi / WSU $ 11,6579181920279211110114514.5

2015-26Microbial Communities in Highbush Blueberry from Different Regions of WashingtonZhu/WSU$ 26,6731361618252424261414814.8

2015-20Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) for Mitigating Bird Damage in Blueberry Crops: Proof of ConceptKarkee/ WSU$ 7,12019131825241351018615115.1

2015-14Blueberry cultivar and selection evaluation in the Pacific NorthwestFinn/ USDA$ 8,4002116131921131421714516.1

2015-05Calcium applications and the reduction of premature fruit drop in "Draper" blueberryDeVetter / WSU$ 8,6341221201916151920121216616.6

2015-22Monitoring Townsend’s Voles (Microtus townsendii) in Berry Plantation in the Lower Mainland of British ColumbiaRansome/ DBR$ 6,0001026101018122627112117117.1

2015-23Lowering and Maintaining Soil PH blueberry soils in central Washington Davenport/WSU$ 14,73322925131526165242417917.9

2015-21Practices to Reduce Heat Damage in Highbush BlueberriesBryla/USDA$ 6,65524527623231223231918518.5Want the work but with different proposal

2015-09Developing a understanding of the physiology of "Liberty" and "Duke" and how it may impact plant growth, pruning, fertility and fruit qualityStrik / OSU$ 6,9851819212212181825191718918.9Western and Eastern

2015-11Root to shoot ratio in blueberry cultivar- impacts of long term soil amendments and mulches & implications for irrigation and fertilizationStrik / OSU$ 13,7902022231713191726201619319.3

2015-07Timing of phenological stages of highbush blueberry cultivars grown in WA Peever/ WSU $ 14,2912325262317172724252323023.0

2015-04Evaluating traditional pruning strategies across different cultivars of highbushDeVetter / WSU$ 9,2872624222422252521222623723.7

1618343.4

1216282.8

2015-25Assessment of Application Technologies Specific to the Eastern Pacific Northwest BlueberriesHoheisel/ WSU$ 18,4782727241526272417272624024.0

$ 152,703$ - 0

$ 305,406

Sheet2

Sheet3

2016 WBC Research Proposals – Proposed / not yet fundedProposal # Title Researcher/Instit. $$$$$$2016-01 Blueberry fertility Strik, Bernadine/OSU $9,530 2016-02 Machine Harvesting Strik, Bernadine/OSU $7,540 2016-03 Improvement of Pollination DeVetter,Lisa/WSU $10,9252016-04 Role of Boron DeVetter,Lisa/WSU $9,9372016-05 Microbial Sanitizing Zhu, Meijun/WSU $18,9782016-06 Organic SWD Control Schreiber, Alan/ADG $14,6002016-07 Organic Mummyberry Control Schreiber, Alan/ADG $10,7502016-08 Decline Curve for Fungicides Schreiber, Alan/ADG $17,0002016-09 Variety Trial Schreiber, Alan/ADG $10,0002016-10 Conventional Mummyberry Schreiber, Alan/ADG $13,7502016-11 Harmonization of MRLs Schreiber, Alan/ADG $5,0002016-12 Commercial Blueberry Cultivars Finn,Chad/OSU $11,4882016-13 Tissue Nutritional Assays Davenport,Joan/WSU $28,4232016-14 Testing of Herbicides Miller,Tim/WSU $8,3522016-15 Variety Trial Planning Grant DeVetter,Lisa/WSU $2,1982016-16 Aphids and Virus Risk Walters,Thomas/Walters Ag $10,5402016-17 Biological RNAi Choi,Man-Yeon/USDA $40,0002016-18 Exirel and Root Weevil Gerdeman,Bev/WSU $6,6232016-19 Cold Hardiness Hoheisel,Gwen/WSU $13,095

2016-20Mummy berry Biology and Resistance Peever, Tobin/WSU $22,984

$271,713

Exporting Blueberries

Washington, the U.S., Canada, North America, South America, the Western Hemisphere is facing an over supply of blueberries.

Part of dealing with Washington’s supply has to be exports, particularly to the Pacific Rim.

Few blueberry growing regions are better situated to take advantage of this than is Washington.

Oregon has fresh access to South Korea. B.C., Oregon and California have aggressive export market

development programs.

I feel that the Commission needs to increase its efforts in this area.

Exports-this is an area where significant progress is occurring

Washington has to develop export markets.

Washington has teamed up with California on a joint project to get into South Korea, China and Australia early.

We hope to ship to South Korea in 3 years or so (same thing I said last year) and Australia not longer after.

Hope to initiate a program that will result in significant sales of processed blueberries in China.

I would like to initiate a program that would jump start sales to India.

Exports is WBC’s biggest area of increased effort.

Export Market Development is a Major Area of Focus

BCI is working on analyses of markets for China, South Korea and India.

Trade mission to China in last February.

Trade mission to India in October

Trade mission to South Korea-looking for volunteers.

Wanting to access grant dollars to look at Southeast Asian markets, particularly Philippines and Vietnam.

Food Safety and Labor

The WRRC and the WBC hosted a set of workshops on food safety in 2014 and 2015 and will do so again in 2016. In 2014 included the US Department of Labor.

Prosser, Whatcom, Skagit and SW Washington locations.

Targeted at growers and key employees

Want to include food safety, Department of Labor and Washington L and I.

One major concern. We do not have the capacity to fresh pack or process

the crop that we produced in 2015.

I estimate that at least 40% of our crop is packed or processed outside of the state; British Columbia and Oregon are primary destinations, but at least 2 million pounds each goes to California and Idaho.

Our industry is leaving a lot of income on the table by shipping it out of the state.

The Washington industry would be greatly strengthened by increasing post harvest handling capacity.

Our industry is rapidly evolving.

Want to go over some positive developments and are point out

some areas where there are issues.

Some concerns that I have My number one concern is how do we manage an

industry that is rapidly moving to producing 200 million pounds of fruit.

Fungicide resistance. Spotted wing drosophila. Need a stronger entomology program. Concerned about food safety. I do not feel like we

are prepared, not sure what to do. Wish we had a kill step-we are working on it.

Worried about labor-we do not have enough. Wish we were making more progress on mechanized

harvesting.

Concerns that I have. The Washington blueberry industry has not ascended to the

appropriate position on a national and international level. We need to have more North American Blueberry Council

members. We need to be better represented at the U.S. Highbush

Council. I do not feel like the WBC is making enough progress

opening export markets. Long hard slog to open foreign markets.

The PNW Small Fruit Research Center does not provide the Washington blueberry industry support commensurate to our needs.

Move to the positive aspects of our industry

Despite the rapid growth in our industry, the price of blueberries

has not tanked.

Outreach efforts Washington Small Fruit Conference and Lynden

Ag Show WSU’s Chris Benedict, WRRC Henry Bierlink and

the Washington Blueberry Commission. Record attendance every year. Very proud of this event. It will just get better every year. My biggest concern is that we are going to out

grow this facility in 2 to 3 years. Diane O’Neil and Henry Bierklink doing a great

job.

Annual workshops for growers

Starting annual workshops with WSU in eastern Washington (Gwen Hoheisel), Skagit County (Don McMorrin) and Whatcom County (Chris Benedict).

Pruning Irrigation Pest Management What ever is needed.

Washington Blueberry School WSU’s Lisa DeVetter is running it. Shamelessly

patterned after Oregon Blueberry School January 12, Ellensburg, Central Washington

University. One day of intensive training. Covers a wide array of topics. We have 100 seats available; most not filled. Targeting employees coming into the industry or

moving up in their business. We need every seat filled. This is a tremendous

opportunity.

WBC works well with the WRRC

No two commissions work more closely together that blueberries and raspberries.

I feel fortunate to have Henry to work with.

We work closely and well together.

Our research program is a strong suit DeVetter has started a strong horticultural program that

will build into a significant force. Peever has rapidly created a very strong pathology

program. Gwen Hoheisel, Chris Benedict, Tim Miller and others are

building a strong, strong research base. Research takes time, not all projects end up with useful

results. We have 21 research wide ranging research priorities. The Commission 2015-2016 projects address 15 of

them. We do not have all of the funds or researchers to tackle

everything. Small Fruit Center’s Virginia Stockwell

Generally, I think the Washington blueberry industry is very well situated

Latest plantings in the nation, so we have the best varieties, best technologies, best post harvest handling facilities.

Some of the highest yields in the world. The most organic production. Overall, very good growers. Excellent export position, and generally aggressive exporters. We have the widest temporal range of harvest from early

June to October in the world. (Watch out for Peru.) Some deep pockets funding our operations. Everybody wants to grow in Washington.

Everybody wants Washington blueberries.

The Future (of the WBC) The WBC assessment is $8 per ton-we do not plan to

change our state assessment.

WBC funds will increase as production increase.

The majority of our funds will probably continue to go heavily in to research and export market development.

Increasing transfer of information to growers.

We are seeking more involvement, more feed back and more participation by industry members (growers and others).

We have a good board that gives me a lot of room to work, but keeps me on a leash.

Wisely using grower assessments.

The End

Slide Number 1The Washington Blueberry CommissionSo how much did Washington produce this year?N. A. Highbush Blueberry Production�Washington produces more processed blueberries than any other state.The future of the Washington blueberry industry.Slide Number 7Slide Number 8Production estimate for 2016What is the WBC doing with your assessments?Slide Number 11PromotionsResearchSlide Number 14Slide Number 15Slide Number 16Exporting BlueberriesExports-this is an area where significant progress is occurring.Export Market Development is a Major Area of FocusFood Safety and LaborOne major concern.Our industry is rapidly evolving.Some concerns that I haveConcerns that I have.Move to the positive aspects of our industryOutreach effortsAnnual workshops for growersWashington Blueberry SchoolWBC works well with the WRRCOur research program is a strong suitGenerally, I think the Washington blueberry industry is very well situated The Future (of the WBC)�Slide Number 33