Prepared by Dr. Chad Finn, Research Geneticist, Northwest Center for Small Fruit Research, © 1999. This is a list of small fruit crops that are either currently grown, are recommended alternate crops, are experimental crops, or are not recommended for the Columbia River Gorge. The Columbia River Gorge includes parts of Hood River, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, and Umatilla counties as indicated on the map at right.
The Columbia River Gorge is the transitional area between the Willamette Valley and Eastern Oregon. Colder in winter than the Willamette Valley and some areas are affected by strong winds blowing down the Gorge in the summer time.
Going from Columbia Locks to Umatilla/Hermiston and very near the Columbia River. The Columbia River Gorge is a very minor production area for berry crops. As the gorge climbs from the mild climate of the Willamette Valley to the harsher climate of Eastern Oregon it becomes more difficult to produce berry crops. Pick-your-own and local sales can work well because of the large tourist industry in this region
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Existing Crops
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Crop
Information
Links
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Blackberries-erect, semi-erect |
Adapted. Erect and semi-erect cultivars grown for wholesale and local fresh market. |
Oregon |
NewCROP |
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Blueberries |
Adapted. Highbush blueberries grown for fresh markets. |
Oregon |
NewCROP |
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Raspberries-red |
Adapted. Susceptible to root rots on wet sites so plant on ridges. While most acreage is for processing, with proper cultivar selection can produce excellent fresh market product. Large established processing industry. |
Oregon |
NewCROP |
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Strawberries |
Adapted. While most acreage is for processing, with proper cultivar selection can produce excellent fresh market product. Large established processing industry |
Oregon |
NewCROP |
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Raspberries-Black |
Adapted. Local fresh market. |
Oregon |
NewCROP |
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Recommended New, Alternate or Underutilized Crops
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Aronia (A. melanocarpa) |
Adapted. Only processed for juice. Demand uncertain. |
Oregon |
NewCROP |
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Juneberry/Saskatoon (Amelanchier sp.) |
Adapted. Poor market potential due to its similarity in appearance to blueberry and the common feeling that the fruit quality is inferior to blueberry. |
Oregon |
NewCROP |
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Lingonberries (Vaccinium vitis idaea) |
Adapted. Many small trial plantings newly established in grower fields. Market undeveloped and unknown. |
Oregon |
NewCROP |
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Trailing western blackberry (Rubus ursinus) |
Harvested from wild stands for specialty markets. |
Oregon |
NewCROP |
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Vaccinium "Huckleberries" (V. membranaceum, V. ovalifolium,
V. deliciosum; V. ovatum) |
Harvested from wild stands for specialty markets. Erratic supply depending on weather conditions. These fruit are most similar to blueberry and have no resemblance to the garden huckleberries that are related to tomatoes. |
Oregon |
NewCROP |
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Currants and gooseberries (Ribes sp.) |
Adapted. Excellent potential. Market is not well developed. Gooseberries and red currants can be sold fresh or processed. While some black currants are sold fresh, they are usually made into juice. |
Oregon |
NewCROP |
Baby/Hardy Kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta) |
Adapted but limited testing. New, relatively small market. Wind damage to new growth could be a problem. Very expensive to establish. Unsure of market size in the future. |
Oregon |
NewCROP |
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Experimental New or Alternate
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Buffalo berry (Hippophae argentea syn. Sheperdia
argentea) |
Should be adapted. No ongoing research or commercial production. Old crop that has never developed a market. Primarily processed. |
Oregon |
NewCROP |
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Edible Honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea) |
Adaptation uncertain but being researched by Ore. St. Univ./USDA in Willamette Valley. Extremely early flowering and ripening. Fresh market. Does poorly with drought stress. |
Oregon |
NewCROP |
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Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) |
Should be adapted. No ongoing research or commercial production. Primarily processed. |
Oregon |
NewCROP |
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Not Recommended
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Blackberries-trailing, 'Boysen', 'Logan' |
Not reliably winter hardy |
Oregon |
NewCROP |
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Fuzzy Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) |
Not reliably winter hardy |
Oregon |
NewCROP |
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Cranberry |
Summers too warm. Difficult to find good site. Requires substantial
amount of water. |
Oregon |
NewCROP |
The Small Fruit Crop listing was compiled and written by Dr. Chad Finn, Research Geneticist—Northwest Center for Small Fruit Research © 1999. Questions related to these plants should be addressed to Dr. Finn at finnc@bcc.orst.edu
