Developing better blueberry varieties is only part of the work needed to keep North Carolina’s blueberry industry thriving. Protecting those plants from diseases, and helping growers respond when new threats emerge, is just as important. That work falls to researchers like Bill Cline and Caleb Bollenbacher, Extension plant pathologists with North Carolina State University based … Read more
North Carolina blueberry farmers have some solid options when it comes to what cultivated varieties – or cultivars – of blueberries they grow, but various demands on those farmers mean they’re always in need of improved blueberries that meet their evolving needs. That’s where blueberry breeding research comes into play, along with the research stations … Read more
Tucked just north of Wilmington, the Horticultural Crops Research Station at Castle Hayne sits in the warm, sandy soils of New Hanover County – a landscape uniquely suited to small fruit research. With 111 acres split between two sites, the station supports one of the largest public blueberry-breeding programs in the world while also hosting … Read more
Although North Carolina is in the middle of winter, some of your favorite summer fruits are getting attention on farms across the state. No, that’s not a reference to chocolate-covered strawberries you may have for Valentine’s Day. (If that’s a treat for you this February, your strawberries are likely coming from Florida or California unless … Read more
