Machine harvesting blueberries for fresh markets: Experiences and lessons learned in NC

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1 Machine harvesting blueberries for fresh markets: Experiences and lessons learned in NC Bill Cline Entomology & Plant Pathology North Carolina State University Horticultural Crops Research Station Castle Hayne, NC

2 BLUEBERRIES IN NORTH CAROLINA Home garden and pick-your-own plantings exist throughout the state, but our main commercial crop is harvested in southeastern NC (blue area) with an annual farm gate value of $78M (2015). Limited to unique, low ph sand-based organic soils (Leon, Lynn Haven series), or organic muck soils (i.e., Carolina Bays). Approx 10,000 acres total

3 The best native NC blueberry soils are organic sands (>3% organic matter) with a water table within of the surface; fields are not mulched but are bedded to improve aeration in the root zone.

4 Field layout used in North Carolina (southern highbush) Nine to ten feet between rows Plants spaced 30 to 36 inches apart Generous turn radius at ends of rows Most fields planted with a single cultivar, no pollinator rows Rows bedded and drainage established prior to planting

5 Overhead irrigation is used for freeze protection, most with sprinkler spacing 60 x 60 ft delivering 0.15 inch/hr

6 Blueberry harvest timing by cultivar in southeastern NC (*NCSU) Cultivar MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEP CROATAN* REBEL O NEAL* STAR REVEILLE/BLADEN* DUKE NEW HANOVER* LEGACY PREMIER* COLUMBUS* TIFBLUE POWDERBLUE* EARLY >>>MIDSEASON >>>LATE HIGHBUSH SOUTHERN HIGHBUSH RABBITEYE

7 FRESH price declines over time, so volume is stacked early in the season Wk May (3 wks) June July $ per lb % of total crop % 30% 17% 16% 10% 7% 3% 3% 2% 1% <1% Average NC fresh blueberry returns and volume

8 To machine for fresh, you need the right Pruning Soft Sorter Dry weather Labor Woes Machine For Fresh Field setup Color Sorter Cultivars Precooler Harvester

9 Machine for Fresh (MFF) in NC Began 1990s with Reveille, Bladen, rabbiteyes Blowers, sorters (color & soft) critical to success Forced-air cooling (pre- & post-pack) is necessary Legacy, O Neal & rabbiteyes Est. currently 50% hand, 30% MFF, 20% processed Usually start with hand harvest 1-2x Handle fruit dry

10 REVEILLE 1990, Southern highbush. Medium to small, very firm, machine-for-fresh berry. Once15% of NC acreage, now declining due to low, inconsistent yields. Exceptional, unique flavor. Susceptible to cracking in wet seasons.

11 Machine for Fresh (MFF) -- Grower Discussion/Comments Bladen County (NC) Blueberry Meeting, 2007 HIGHBUSH or FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH SHB CULTIVAR PICKING PICKING PICKING PICKING Star no (pull) no (pull) yes -- O Neal no ($) at 30% ripe yes yes Bladen* at 30% ripe yes yes -- Reveille* at 30% ripe yes yes -- Duke no (clusters) no ($) maybe -- Croatan no no no no Legacy no ($) at 30% ripe yes yes Jubilee* at 30% ripe no (size) no (size) -- Pender* at 30% ripe yes RABBITEYE CULTIVARS PREMIER no ($) at 30% ripe yes yes BRIGHTWELL at 30% ripe yes? (splits) yes? (splits) no (size) COLUMBUS at 30% ripe yes maybe -- TIFBLUE* no (splits) no (splits) POWDERBLUE at 40% ripe yes yes no (size) Reasons MFF not acceptable: $=price timing, Pull=difficult to pick, Clusters=clusters too tight, Splits=prone to rain splitting, Size=too small for fresh (*)=minor or declining acreage

12 Hand harvesting is the largest annual expense. Small, shallow buckets are used to avoid crushing berries. The industry standard is a one-gallon bucket.

13 Increasing use of both rotary (shown) and sway types to machine-pick for fresh pack

14 Immediately after harvest, berries are quickly cooled by using forced-air fan systems to pull cold air across shallow trays of fruit.

15 Commercial growers use automated packing lines for dry-sorting and packaging fresh blueberries in plastic clamshell containers

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17 Cultivated Blueberry Types/Species in NC Rabbiteye (Vaccinium virgatum syn. V. ashei) native to deep South, hexaploid 6X Highbush (Vaccinium corymbosum) Northern highbush domesticated in NJ, but also native into the South; tetraploid 4X Southern highbush (Vaccinium corymbosum X?) complex interspecific hybrids with lower chill requirement, greater soil adaptability Pentaploid 5x between rabbiteye & highbush

18 Limitations on use of blueberry species and cultivars (NC examples): Soil adaptability = rabbiteyes are the best choice for Piedmont, homeowner, PYO Winter hardiness = northern highbush best choice in WNC mountains above 2500 ft Chill requirement = (i) some less than 350 hrs do really well in areas of FL and CA but are too risky for SENC (Snowchaser, Ventura, Jewel, Emerald, etc.), while (ii) some N. highbush do not get enough chilling in SENC to bloom and leaf normally (Bluecrop, etc.)

19 Poor leafing due to lack of Winter Chill Hours <45 o F

20 Further limitations I wouldn t grow that one because Stems don t detach Cracking Wet stem scar Too soft Poor flavor (esp. tart) Disease Color (too dark) Size Poor bush survival Market prejudice (species, size, color) Ripens too late Yield not consistent Yield too low Won t machine pick

21 Machineharvestable but stems do not detach Fresh berry destemmer?

22 LOCAL testing & evaluation is very important esp. on-farm with growers Mike Mainland, Hort Sci Emeritus Prof.

23 Earliest Cultivars (NC) Standard O Neal, Star Emerging Rebel, Suziblue What s next? FL (Indigocrisp), TH 948 (Miss Lilly), Meadowlark, Georgia Dawn?

24 O NEAL -- Southern highbush cultivar, released by NCSU. Early ripening, fairly good soil adaptation, Extended bloom period reduces freeze risk. O Neal is planted world-wide. Susceptible to blueberry stem canker. Hand or machine for fresh, high value discourages machine-for-fresh until later pickings.

25 Early Midseason Cultivars Standard Croatan*,Duke, New Hanover Emerging Farthing, Abundance, San Joaquin What s next? Keecrisp? (FL06-556) *Phasing out rapidly

26 FARTHING good for machine harvest, productive, compact plant, but fruit has green/red backs at time of harvest hold at 70 F for a day to allow them to turn blue?

27 Midseason Cultivars Standard Legacy, Premier Emerging Camellia, Robeson What s Next? TH 917 (Miss Jackie),Gupton, Vernon

28 LEGACY --Southern highbush from USDA, developed in NJ. Ripens early June in southeastern NC and is widely soil-adapted -- a possible choice for marginal sites. Usually hand picked once, then either hand, machine-for-fresh, or machine for processed.

29 Mid- to Late-Season Cultivars all rabbiteyes Standard Brightwell, Columbus, Tifblue, Powderblue Emerging Onslow? What s Next? Overtime, Ochlockonee

30 COLUMBUS NCSU rabbiteye release (2002), ripens in early July (SENC). Excellent flavor, color and shelf life. Difficult to propagate and establish.

31 Advice to growers regarding machinefor-fresh (MFF) blueberries in NC Yes, you can do it successfully, BUT No one in NC has yet been able to go entirely MFF, you will still have to use hand pickers Equipment costs are prohibitive for smaller operations There must be a ready processing outlet for machine-harvested fruit that is not suitable for the fresh market

32 Challenges to machine picking Bruising/quality Tight clusters Leakers Ground loss Green loss Pack loss Rain/wet handling leading to decay Hand first? Hand supplemental? Hand between machine picks? More frequent passes with machine? Pickers leave?

33 Hybrid hand/machine picking system Prime the field by hand to get early $ and break tight clusters. Hope it doesn t rain. Machine-pick DRY, frequently, gently as possible, padded machine, right cultivars If blue fruit left behind, clean-up by hand between machine trips to avoid leakers caused by overripe fruit remaining on the bush Immediate forced air cooling followed by colorand soft- sorting in controlled climate

34 LOCAL testing & evaluation is very important esp. on-farm with growers Mike Mainland, Hort Sci Emeritus Prof.