New Blackberry Varieties Being Developed in Oregon

Oregon is a hub of new variety development for horticulture and a new variety of blackberry is available to help growers and food processors.

USDA Researcher Chad Finn says, “We do have a new release in Columbia Sunrise. That one is very early ripening and that’s going to give growers another opportunity to spread their market out and we have some insect problems that build up over the course of the season and Columbia Sunrise is early enough that it avoids that so growers will be able to spray pure insecticide.”

Many newer and developed varieties are designed to showcase different characteristics such as color and taste while opening up new market opportunities for growers.