Oregon
Caneberries
AT A G L A N C E
Caneberry Benefits
Economic, Social, Environmental
O
regon’s caneberry crops include cultivated blackberries, raspberries,
boysenberries, and loganberries. Marionberries, a variety of blackberry,
have been grown in and around Marion County since the mid-1950s,
and that remains the center of their production. Other caneberries, including
marionberries, also are produced in southern Oregon and in the Columbia Gorge.
Soils and spring rains combined with warm days and cool nights during the
growing season are ideal production conditions for these fruits.
In 2008, the marionberry represented 40% of the acreage of all caneberries
harvested in the state. From 1998 to 2008, the harvested acreage of marionberries
increased by 50%. In 2008, Oregon produced 2.4 million pounds of cultivated
blackberries for fresh-market shipping, a considerable increase from the
0.6 million pounds produced for fresh markets in 1998. Currently, about
95% of blackberries for processing are harvested by machine.
Caneberry processing includes freezing, puréeing, juicing, and
freeze-drying. More than 96% of the marionberry crop is
processed. Much of this frozen product reaches the table as pie,
ice cream, yogurt, and jam.
Oregon Caneberries
Cooperative research and educational outreach have supported
Oregon’s caneberry growers and processors in these ways:
n Developed and evaluated new blackberry and raspberry cultivars for the
Pacific Northwest for maximum yield and quality. Some cultivars have
extended the berry-growing season and support sales in niche markets. $
n Researched flower bud development and bud break. This work increased
blackberry yields and provided growers with an effective response to cold
injury. $
n Adopted pruning and training systems to improve machine-harvested
yields. $
n Introduced the practice of using machinery in the dormant season to
remove berry brambles, enabling growers to make more use of their
equipment and to get a price premium for cleaner fruit. $
n Established the relationship between pruning and the plant’s demand for
nitrogen, leading to better timing of pruning and fertilization. $ ❦
n Investigated the impact of irrigation method and frequency on yield and
quality of red raspberries. $ ❦
n Evaluated fungicidal action against cane blights. $ ❦
Oregon Caneberries
Family farms
500
Acres harvested 12,360
Pounds produced
49.4 million
Value of sales 1 $37.7 million
Oregon’s national ranking
Black raspberries, boysenberries,
loganberries, & blackberries
#1
Red raspberries
#2
Share of U.S. domestic production
Processed blackberries
100%
Black raspberries
100%
Health and nutrition benefits:
Fiber, vitamin C, and flavonoids; free of saturated fat and cholesterol
Notes
Economic data in this section from the 2008 Census of Agriculture. http://www.agcensus.
usda.gov and from the Oregon Agricultural Statistics Service. http://nass.usda.gov/
Statistics_by_State/Oregon/
1 ”Value of sales” = value to growers from sales of their production. Commodities and farming
operations vary widely in how much postharvest handling and packing take place on-farm.
n Provide regular educational opportunities to growers, maintained the
Northwest Berry and Grape Information Network, and provided information, resources and research results to the berry industry. $ ❦ 
Benefits key
$ Economic benefit
❦ Environmental benefit
Social benefit
Farm Receipts
>$6.8–12.1 million
$1.2–2.8 million
<$350,000
Produced by the Department of Horticulture and Extension Service, Oregon State University.
© 2009 Oregon State University. Extension work is a cooperative program of Oregon State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Oregon counties. Oregon State University Extension Service offers educational programs, activities, and materials without
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