Oregon berry and grape growers are watching for damage caused by unusually hot weather that settled into Western Oregon.
Excessive heat can blister or sunburn wine grapes, which are still developing and won’t be harvested until September. Late season raspberries may develop white drupelets due to sun scald.
Blueberry harvest of mid- to late-season varieties is underway, and crop consultant Tom Peerbolt said mature berries may shrivel in the heat, while green berries may not reach full size.
“The plant can’t pump enough water, so it shuts down and interferes with sizing,” he said. “Fortunately a lot of the commercial folks have installed cooling systems, and they pay for themselves in an event like this.”
Read more at the Capital Press.