August 2021 - 1

Wagner Farms thrives
after focusing on
sustainability
University of California
is improving equipment
for vacuuming lygus
bugs off strawberries
10
14
20
FloraPulse system
measures water
potential of trees, vines
August 2021 | Volume 60 |
Issue 8
Dennis and Shelly Hartmann, front, are shown with daughter Kara, and her husband, Jamie, who now are part of True Blue Farms' operations. Photos: True Blue Farms
BLUEBERRIES' BEST
By Stephen Kloosterman
Associate Editor
Michigan's Shelly Hartmann USHBC's first female chairperson
America. She succeeds Chris Barnhill
Blueberry Council (USHBC).
More than that, Shelly Hartmann
A Michigan grower who radiates
optimism for what the blueberry
industry can be is the new
chairperson of the U.S. Highbush
will be the first elected female
chairperson of the 21-year-old
organization, which today represents
some 2,500 growers, packers and
importers in North and South
of North Carolina.
" USHBC is one of the only
organizations that has an open
dialogue regarding what is happening
with the other growers' operations in
different parts of the world, " Hartmann
said. " We are able to network and learn
from each other. "
Made in Michigan
Hartmann, who co-owns True Blue
See HARTMANN, page 5
Crop outlook a mixed bag for growers
By Gary Pullano
Editor
A major heat wave that caused
unprecedented temperatures in the
Pacific Northwest in late June and early
July was the starkest example of weather
events that have negatively impacted fruit
growing regions across the U.S. in 2021.
Crop estimates for the Northwest
cherry production season alone account
for an estimated 20% drop in output,
complicated by advanced harvest dates
and night harvesting to shield work crews
from the oppressive conditions.
Following is a preliminary snapshot of
major fruit crops produced in the country.
Tight strawberry supply
For the first two months of 2021,
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
(AMS) data from the March Fruit
and Tree Nuts Outlook showed total
strawberry shipments down 21% from
the same period in 2020. Heavy rains
in California and lower than normal
temperatures in Florida resulted in
tight U.S. supplies. February 2021 fresh
strawberry shipments compared to
February 2020 were down: Florida (down
55%), Mexico (down 31%) and winter
shipments from California (down 52%).
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics
Service (NASS) reported the January 2021
grower price up compared to December
2020 which reflected the lower supply.
Consistent with grower prices, AMS
strawberry shipping point prices and U.S.
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics strawberry retail prices were up
in January and February 2021 compared
to a year ago.
Based on the annual acreage survey
conducted by the California Strawberry
Commission (CSC), total California
strawberry acreage in 2021 is 36,487. To
keep up with demand, 2020 fall planted
acres increased 5.7%. The increase
in plantings, combined with higher
See CROP, page 8

August 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2021