Oregon CropMAP

Eastern Oregon Small Fruit Crops

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 Eastern Oregon. The Eastern Oregon small fruit region covers all portions of Oregon East of the Cascades and south of the Columbia River gorge. Eastern Oregon has a continental climate with dry, hot summers and fairly cold dry winters with little snow. Eastern Oregon is a very minor production area for berry crops in Oregon. The hot summers and cold winters require growers to carefully choose their crops and cultivars. The industry here is largely pick-your-own and local sales.

Northwest Berry and Grape Information Net

Northwest Center for Small Fruit Research

Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission

Oregon Blueberry Commission

Oregon Strawberry Commission

Existing Crops

Crop
Information
Links

Raspberries-red

Fall/primocane fruiting types well adapted if irrigation provided.

Oregon

NewCROP

Strawberries

Adapted if irrigation provided. Local fresh market. Must choose cold hardy cultivars.

Oregon

NewCROP

Recommended New, Alternate or Underutilized Crops

Baby/Hardy Kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta)

Should be adapted if irrigation provided. Expensive to establish. Market demand unknown.

Oregon

NewCROP

Blackberries-erect, semi-erect

Adapted if irrigation provided. Local fresh market.

Oregon

NewCROP

Blueberries

Adapted if irrigation provided. Local fresh market.

Oregon

NewCROP

Currants and gooseberries (Ribes sp.)

Adapted if irrigation provided. Local fresh market. 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

Raspberries-Black

Adapted if irrigation provided. Local fresh market.

Oregon

NewCROP

Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

Adapted. Limited market. Processing only.

Oregon

NewCROP

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

Lingonberries (Vaccinium vitis idaea)

Adapted but untested. Primarily processed but can be sold fresh for fall holiday market.

Oregon

NewCROP

Raspberries-red

Summer fruiting types are susceptible to desiccating winds and high light intensity. Choose cold hardy cultivars. Can be grown but can be difficult.

Oregon

NewCROP

Experimental New or Alternate

Aronia (A. melanocarpa)

Adapted but untested. Only suitable for juice market.

Oregon

NewCROP

Buffalo berry (Hippophae argentea syn. Sheperdia argentea)

Adapted and native to portions of this region. No ongoing research or commercial production. Old crop that has never developed a market. Primarily processed.

Oregon

NewCROP

Edible Honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea)

Adaptation uncertain but being researched by Ore. St. Univ./USDA in Willamette Valley in Willamette Valley. Extremely early flowering and ripening. Fresh market. Does poorly with drought stress.

Oregon

NewCROP

Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)

Should be adapted. No ongoing research or commercial production. Primarily processed.

Oregon

NewCROP

Not Recommended

Blackberries-trailing, 'Boysen', 'Logan'

Not reliably winter hardy

Oregon

NewCROP

Fuzzy Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa)

Not reliably winter hardy

Oregon

NewCROP

Cranberry

Summers too warm. Difficult to find good site. Requires substantial amount of water.

Oregon

NewCROP