Oregon CropMAP

Willamette Valley 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 Willamette Valley. The Willamette Valley small fruit region includes parts of Multnomah, Clackamas, Marion, Linn, Lane, Benton, Polk, Yamhill, Washington, and Columbia counties as indicated on the map at right. The Willamette Valley has a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. It is the most important production area in Oregon for all berries except cranberries and is one of the most important production areas in the world for berry crops. Nearly all temperate berry crops can be grown here. The bulk of the berry crop is harvested for the wholesale processing industry. Fresh fruit is produced and sold for wholesale, national and international markets and for local retail markets.

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

Baby/Hardy Kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta)

Adapted. New, relatively small market. Very expensive to establish. Unsure of market size in the future.

Oregon

NewCROP

Blackberries-erect, semi-erect

Adapted. Erect and semi-erect cultivars grown for wholesale and local fresh market.

Oregon

NewCROP

Blackberries-trailing, 'Boysen', 'Logan'

Adapted. Too soft for shipping. Entirely produced for processing market. Large established processing market.

Oregon

NewCROP

Blueberries

Adapted. Highbush blueberries grown for processing and fresh markets. Well established industry.

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

Raspberries

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

Raspberries-Black

Adapted. Primarily grown for juice market; Roadside fresh market possibilities.

Oregon

NewCROP

Strawberries

Adapted. While most acreage is for processing, with proper cultivar selection can produce excellent fresh market product. Large established processing industry.

Oregon

NewCROP

Recommended New, Alternate or Underutilized Crops

Aronia (A. melanocarpa)

Adapted. Only processed for juice. Demand uncertain.

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. Many small trial plantings newly established in grower fields. Market undeveloped and unknown.

Oregon

NewCROP

Salal (Gaultheria shalon)

Harvested from wild for cut evergreen foliage. Fruit was historically valued by Native Americans.

Oregon

NewCROP

Trailing western blackberry (Rubus ursinus)

Harvested from wild stands for specialty markets.

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. Evergreen huckleberry (V. ovatum) harvested for cut evergreen foliage and for fruit.

Oregon

NewCROP

Experimental New or Alternate

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

Edible Honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea)

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

Oregon

NewCROP

Fuzzy Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa)

Fair adaptation. Will grow well but often there are not enough heat units to develop and ripen fruit.

Oregon

NewCROP

Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)

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

Oregon

NewCROP

Not Recommended

Cranberry

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

Oregon

NewCROP