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Oregon CropMAP

Siskiyou 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 the Siskiyou Small Fruit Region. The Siskiyou small fruit region includes parts of Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, and Klamath counties as indicated on the map at right. The valleys in the Siskiyou Mountains are similar to Willamette Valley although summers are warmer and there is much greater risk of spring frosts. Elevation and aspect can create a variety of microclimates. The valleys within the Siskiyou Mountains of southern Oregon are a relatively minor berry production area with several notable exceptions in blueberry and raspberry production. In this region microclimates can represent the difference between complete success and failure. With the right site, a wide variety of crops can be grown for the wholesale fresh and processed markets as well as for local sales and pick-your-own.

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
Recommended New, Alternate or Underutilized Crops
Experimental New Or Alternate Crops
Not Recommended

Existing Crops		Crop Information Links
Blackberries-erect, semi-erect	Adapted. Erect and semi-erect cultivars grown for wholesale and local fresh market.	Oregon	NewCROP
Blueberries	Adapted. Highbush blueberries grown for processing and fresh markets. Well established industry.	Oregon	NewCROP
Raspberries	Adapted. Susceptible to root rots on wet sites so plant on ridges. Grown for local and wholesale fresh market in this area.	Oregon	NewCROP
Strawberries	Adapted. Only grown for local fresh market in this area. Spring frosts can be a problem.	Oregon	NewCROP
Recommended New, Alternate or Underutilized Crops
Baby/Hardy Kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta)	Adapted. New, relatively small market. Very expensive to establish. Unsure of market size in the future.	Oregon	NewCROP
Blackberries-trailing, 'Boysen', 'Logan'	Adapted. Too soft for shipping. While can be grown, primary market in this region is fresh, so erect, semi-erect blackberries, with their greater firmness are probably a better choice. High summer temperatures and light intensity can damage ripening fruit.	Oregon	NewCROP
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
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-Black	Adapted. Primarily grown for juice market; Roadside fresh market possibilities.	Oregon	NewCROP
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
Trailing western blackberry (Rubus ursinus)	Harvested from wild stands for specialty markets.	Oregon	NewCROP
Experimental New or Alternate
Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)	Should be adapted. No ongoing research or commercial production. Primarily processed.	Oregon	NewCROP
Edible Honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea)	Adaptation uncertain but being researched by Ore. St. Univ./USDA in Willamette Valley. Extremely early flowering and ripening. Early flowering that is subject to frost may preclude growing this crop in this region. Fresh market. Does poorly with drought stress.	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
Not Recommended
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