May 2020 - 17

Blackberry stakeholders surveyed about challenges, needs
By Debby Wechsler
FGN Correspondent
What does the blackberry industry
need? A grant from the USDA Specialty
Crops Research Initiative brought
together 20 academic researchers and
Extension specialists and 18 growers and
industry representatives to discuss this
question in a two-day strategic planning
meeting for the blackberry industry
immediately after the North American
Raspberry & Blackberry Association
conference in St. Louis, on March 6 and 7.
As part of the project, a national
survey of blackberry stakeholders was
conducted to find out what growers - and
other stakeholders such as Extension,
researchers and marketers - felt were
the main needs and priorities of the
blackberry industry. " The most recent
comprehensive survey of blackberry
production and practices was conducted
15 years ago, " said project leader
Margaret Worthington, fruit breeder at
the University of Arkansas. " Production
statistics and assessments of stakeholder
priorities were fragmented and out
of date, not reflecting new challenges
and opportunities for the blackberry
industry. Therefore, we felt an
updated survey and needs assessment
of the U.S. blackberry industry was
desperately needed. "
A total of 174 survey responses
from 33 states were received. Labor
availability was identified as the most
important concern in all regions and the
greatest limiting factor to the growth
and profitability of the U.S. blackberry
industry. Labor cost was also a major
issue in most regions. Across all regions,
spotted wing drosophila was the highest
priority pest and disease issue. Weed
control was the highest priority cultural
problem in all regions except California
(where most production is under
tunnels), while red drupelet reversion,
white drupelet, winter injury and rain
during harvest were high priorities in
some areas.
Asked to report complaints from
consumers and grocers, flavor was
mentioned most often. In the individual
comments collected by the survey, one
West Coast respondent commented, " We
do not have a demand problem; we have
a product quality program. Flavor, red
cell, poor post-harvest handling, etc.,
which means the consumer is getting
inconsistent quality and satisfaction
from our industry. They will buy a
consistently good product but right
now there is too much variability in the
product. " Another from the East Coast
echoed the same sentiment: " Ensuring
the consumer gets consistent, pleasing
flavors for the entire supply season
would ensure even more consistent
purchase ... (though) fruit quality across
the board is much, much higher than
past years. "
More than two-thirds of respondents
felt that investment in health
benefits research would make selling
blackberries easier (versus other berries
or fruits) and lead to greater sales
volume; they were less convinced it
would justify charging higher prices
and lead to greater profitability.
" The strategic planning meeting
was a great opportunity for blackberry
growers, researchers, and Extension
specialists from different parts of the
country to put our heads together, "
Worthington said. While many ideas
emerged from the discussions at the
meeting, flavor, postharvest quality, and
labor issues were identified as the most
important constraints to the growth of
the U.S. blackberry industry. And, the
top national research priorities identified
were control of spotted wing drosophila
Survey results pinpointed priorities for the blackberry industry.
and breeding for improved flavor,
firmness, and disease resistance.
The next goal for the project team,
said Worthington, is to use the
stakeholder input and the directions that
emerged at the meeting to develop an
interdisciplinary research and extension
project that will increase the profitability
and sustainability of the U.S. blackberry
industry. FGN
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May 2020

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