Country Life November 2016

Page 1

Country Life

Gardening • A9 Dairy • A10 4-H • A10

A8 • Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Local raspberry crop tops 75 million pounds — a new record Factors cited: good weather, more plantings, impact of new Wakefield variety By Calvin Bratt editor@lyndentribune.com

WHATCOM ­ — County red raspberry production has set a new high mark.    The numbers for the 2016 harvest have been compiled by the Washington Red Raspberry Commission, and they show more than 75 million pounds of the Lynden-area signature crop taken in last summer.    That’s well above the 68.6 million pounds harvested two years ago, which had been the record.    The 2016 tally statewide is over 78 million pounds, also a new record.   Three factors can be credited, said Henry Bierlink, administrator of the Lyndenbased commission. They are: some increase in acres planted, a year of good growing and harvest weather, and the expanding impact of the new Wakefield variety that is starting to replace the longrunning Meeker.    Still, the strength of the harvest, as tonnage was tallied in October, came as somewhat of a surprise, Bierlink said.    Whatcom is the capital of red raspberries grown for processing in the United States, typically at least two-thirds of

the national total. Local acreage operated by 78 growers is estimated at about 10,000, according to WRRC.    2015 was an off year, with production around 50 to 52 million pounds, the least in seven years. So this year’s bounce-back was all the more pronounced. In both Whatcom County and statewide, the year-to-year jump was about 46 percent.    On the other hand, the average price to growers — across all blends, before any packing or processing — is at its lowest point in four years, at 90.6 per pound of berries. For three years it was over $1.    The commission, using an assessment of half a cent per pound, keeps investing into research and promotion for the industry in order to yield a return for growers, the November 2016 newsletter states.    “We sense that demand for processed raspberries will continue to grow in large part due to the investments in health research and strategic communications with both consumers and key food industry companies. Our challenge will be to produce enough high-quality, safe, and responsibly grown raspberries to meet the market demand and to do so profitably,” it states.     • The WRRC annual meeting will be held on Dec. 1 during the three-day Small Fruit Conference and Lynden Ag Show in Washington Tractor Arena on the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds.     • The 2017 draft budget

The uniquely colored and flavored red raspberry grows ideally in the climate and soil of Whatcom County. (Courtesy Photo)

for the commission, to be considered at the annual meeting, is set at about $404,000.     • On Dec. 4-6 the North American Raspberry/Blackberry Conference is held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Pacific Agriculture Show and Grower Shortcourse is held

Jan. 26-28 in Abbotsford, British Columbia.     • A year ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency codified several changes to the Worker Protection Standards that become effective in January 2017 (a few requirements are delayed to

January 2018). In some areas the federal requirements were brought up to standards already in place in Washington State. For example, the new federal requirements for medical evaluation, training and fit testing for respirators have been in state rules since 1996.

Whatcom Red Raspberries, yield in recent years 2016 75,485,225 lbs. 2015 50,508,651 2014 68,605,297 2013 62,706,638 2012 57,739,866 2011 66,367,838

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