Lowbush blueberry

As published in 2007, highbush and lowbush blueberries are grown on 47 941 hectares (63 077 acres) in Canada ( Statistics Canada). Canada produced approximately 287 000 tonnes of lowbush, or wild, blueberries in 2006. Quebec leads in lowbush blueberry production with 54% of the national production, followed by Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island with 23%, 15% and 5% of the national production, respectively (Veinot 2007).

On-Going Lowbush Blueberry Strategy

Health Canada (HC) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) Pesticide Risk Reduction Program identified lowbush blueberries as a priority crop. General wild lowbush blueberry production information and issues along with pest issues are documented in the Crop Profile for Wild Blueberry in Canada. A blueberry issues document, extracted from the crop profile, was used as a discussion tool in highbush blueberry stakeholder meetings and consultations to help identify the top insect, disease and weed issues. General issues of concern and potential solutions to these issues are also discussed at these meetings. AAC's Pest Management Centre prepared both documents in consultation with the lowbush blueberry industry, the Pesticide Risk Reduction Program's Technical Working Group and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA).

Lowbush Blueberry Stakeholder Meetings and Consultations

Eastern Stakeholder Meeting

An Eastern highbush blueberry stakeholder meeting was held on February 19, 2007, in Moncton, New Brunswick. Participants included grower representatives from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, provincial specialists, researchers and representatives from the pesticide industry. The meeting was held to identify issues related to highbush blueberry and put forward possible solutions to the issues.

Research Funded under the Pesticide Risk Reduction Program

The Pesticide Risk Reduction Program has funded several projects addressing the priorities the Lowbush Blueberry Working Group established in consultation with the Pest Management Centre and the PMRA.

Projects Funded to Date

• Microbial biocontrol for foliar blight (Monilinia and Botrytis) of lowbush blueberry and fruit rot (Phomopsis and Fusicoccum) of cranberry (Project Code: MU03-PATHO4)
• Field application on Metarhizium anisopliae (Met52) for management of root weevils in berry crops (Project Code: BPI07-090)
• Biocontrol of leaf curl in peach and mummy berry of lowbush blueberry using the bacterial biocontrol product Serenade Max (Bacillus subtilis) (Project Code: BPI07-030)

For further updates, please visit Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

References

Veinot, R. (2007) Report, Blueberry Section of the Apple and Fruit Committee. In. Annual Report, Canadian Horticultural Council 85^th Annual General Meeting,Vancouver, B.C. March 7^th-10^th, 2007.