Duration: 10/01/2026 to 09/30/2031

Administrative Advisor(s):

NIFA Reps:

Non-Technical Summary

Small fruits such as grapes, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and cranberries are vital to U.S. agriculture, contributing more than $11.9 billion annually to state and national economies. These crops are produced across diverse regions and farm sizes—from small local growers to large operations serving national and international markets. Coordinated, multi-state and -regional initiatives are therefore essential to address common production challenges, enhance resource efficiency, and accelerate scientific and technological advancements within the small fruit industry – to enhance product quality, reduce inputs, expand markets and improve profitability for growers – that simultaneously promote soil health and regenerative practices.

The NCCC-212 project provides a critical forum for collaboration among small-fruit scientists, breeders, and extension specialists from universities and the USDA. Through annual meetings and cooperative research, members can set up the exchange plant material, share findings, coordinate studies to develop superior cultivars, and improve production systems. In addition, there are discussions regarding common stakeholder challenges, which helps inform the development of research efforts and outreach to growers – providing them science-based, practical recommendations.

Key objectives include: (1) develop and evaluate improved germplasm adapted to regional needs; (2) create sustainable and efficient production practices; (3) assess fruit quality traits such as flavor, firmness, and shelf life; and (4) coordinate extension activities to deliver information through field days, grower meetings, publications, and online platforms – all with the goals increasing grower profitability while promoting soil health/regenerative agriculture.

The Committee’s coordinated approach improves the collective ability to serve the small fruit industry by facilitating coordinated and collaborative research and outreach across multiple regions. Furthermore, it reduces research duplication and ensures that new technologies and management practices are tested across multiple environments. This collaboration ultimately strengthens the U.S. small-fruit industry by improving profitability, sustainability, and fruit quality for growers and consumers, while fostering training and cooperation among researchers nationwide.

Project alignment with USDA Research and Development Priorities: the projects to be undertaken by this multi-state coordination committee address objectives laid out in the first priority “Increasing Profitability of Farmers and Ranchers”; as well as in “Promoting Soil Health to Regenerate Long-Term Productivity of Land” and “Expanding Markets and Creating New Uses of U.S. Agricultural Products”.

Statement of Issues and Justification

Nature and significance of issues for which multistate coordination is proposed: Production of small fruits contributes significantly to statewide, regional, and national economies – increasing the profitability of these grower operations and implementing new culrivars/practices that sustain and promote soil health. In total, all berries contributed an average of $11.9 billion/year in terms of sales (USDA NASS, 2025). Growers, who produce these horticulturally important crops and are distributed across the nation, range from small-scale growers that contribute to local markets to large operations that provide fruit for national and international fresh and processed markets. Researchers and scientists with extension capacity can be limited nationally, with some states having one-or-no researchers/extension specialists to address small fruit research and outreach needs. Coordinated research and development projects that address emerging threats (input costs / disease / soil health decline) and advance new technologies (precision application / mechanization / post-harvest) are important to facilitate rapid learning and information sharing to states with varying capacity to conduct research. As such, there is a need for the small fruit community to have a venue that will allow for coordination and collaboration among researchers across state boarders. NCCC-212 provided that important venue and this renewal seeks to allow for this multi-state collaboration to continue coordinating research, development and outreach efforts on a regional basis. Furthermore, NCCC-212 has provided a valuable network that allowed small fruit researchers to build successful teams for federal and international granting agencies requiring multi-state, -institutional, and -disciplinary approaches.

How proposed activity addresses national and/or regional priorities: Key priorities for small fruit growers and the associated research community include: A) breeding and releasing superior, adapted cultivars; B) the development of sustainable production techniques for efficient and economic production practices improving commercial profitability; C) production of fruits for expanding, emerging and niche markets (both nationally and internationally); D) horticultural techniques that improve small fruit quality, nutritional value and/or shelf life; and E) identification and management of commodity-specific pests and diseases. Collaboration and coordination provided by NCCC-212 allows small fruit researchers to: (i) share and exchange breeding material in a systematic way that allows for consistent evaluation and meaningful comparison across different production environments; (ii) share findings and techniques regarding new and more efficient productions systems and tools for new cultivars and/or horticultural challenges; and (iii) discuss research plans to avoid duplication and inefficient use of resources. Furthermore, coordination and communication fosters collaboration that allows for multi-state, -institutional, and -disciplinary collaboration to address important and/or emerging threats to sustainable and profitable production practices.

Experiment Stations - Potential Participants: AL, AR, CA, GA, FL, IA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MT, NC, ND, NJ, NY, OR, PA, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI

Stakeholders: Our primary stakeholders are small fruit (including grape) growers.

Fruit Crops (States): Blackberries (AL, AR, CA, GA, NC, OR) ; Blueberries (CA, FL, GA, ME, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OR, WA) ; Cranberries (MA, NJ, OR, WI) ; Elderberries (MO) ; Grapes (AL, CA, MI, NY, OR, TX, WA) ; Honeyberries/haskap (MT, NY) ; Juneberries/Saskatoons (MT, ND, NY) ; Loganberries (OR) ; Raspberries (CA, NY, OR, WA) ; Strawberries (CA, FL, MI, NC, NY, OR, WA)

Objectives

Procedures and Activities

• Objective 1. Develop and evaluate small fruit germplasm for specific needs (such as tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, season extension, organic production, increased storage life, increased flavor, and improved horticultural traits) through cooperative breeding and evaluation programs. Efforts will be fostered by the exchange of germplasm and cooperative studies to evaluate productivity, adaptability, and fruit characteristics of strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, cranberry, grape and other small fruit species.
• Objective 2. Develop new or modified practices for small fruit production. These include off-season production, protected cultivation, plasticulture, improved pruning and training systems, integrated pest management and other innovative systems (such as organic).
• Objective 3. Evaluation of pre- and post-harvest fruit quality components will be accomplished in coordination with completion of Objectives 1 and 2, as these factors can be impacted by genetics and production practices across environments, and are important considerations for farmers’ profitability. Additionally, explore how bioactive compounds in small fruit can be tailored for specific applications, enhanced flavor, etc.
• Objective 4. Time will be dedicated at annual meetings to identify opportunities to collaborate on, and help coordinate, research and extension activities. This includes (i) identifying topics and speakers for statewide, regional and national grower meetings; and (ii) developing print- and web-based publications and decision support tools on topics ranging from cultivar selection to improved management practices.

Expected Outcomes and Impacts

Projected Participation

View Appendix E: Participation

Educational Plan

Most NCCC-212 members have an extension appointment, ensuring research results are disseminated via established university extension channels, or other outreach platforms. National venues where NCCC-212 members share research information with the small fruit industry include (but are not limited to) annual meetings/conferences of the North American Blueberry Council, U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, North American Raspberry and Blackberry Association, North American Strawberry Growers Association, Southern Small Fruits Research Consortium, and Northwest Center for Small Fruit Research. Information is also shared at regional and statewide venues, such as the Great Lakes Fruit and Vegetable Expo, Washington Small Fruit Conference, Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference, Mid Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Show, and multiple state and local grower meetings. Information pertaining to our objectives is also shared by NCCC-212 scientists at field days, through academic program and collaborative project websites, publication of newsletter articles, and both print and online fact sheets and production guides. New information may also be utilized in undergraduate and graduate courses for training the next generation of small fruit growers, researchers, and other industry members.

Organization/Governance

Standard governance with annual nominations and election of the chair-elect (and annual meeting venue host) through a simple majority.  

Literature Cited

USDA NASS.  Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts 2024 Summary. May 2025.    ISSN: 1948-2698    Available at:   

https://esmis.nal.usda.gov/sites/default/release-files/zs25x846c/mc87rn20c/w37656321/ncit0525.pdf

Attachments

Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

AL, AR, GA, IA, MI, MN, MT, NC, ND, NJ, OR, TX, UT, WI

Non Land Grant Participating States/Institutions