Virginia Tech. Small Fruit Program at Hampton Roads AREC

10/18/2026

Glad to see my grant award on highlighted by Virginia Farming Media

The USDA recently announced it is investing $86.6 MILLION for the U.S. specialty crop industry through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. As part of that effort, funding has been allocated to provide "Bountiful Blueberries for Virginia Markets."

Virginia Tech researchers, including specialists from the Small Fruit Horticulture Program, will be using $92k of the funding to test new blueberry varieties at their Hampton Roads research site. They’ll measure how well these berries grow, how good they taste, and how nutritious they are — including levels of a natural plant compound called "monotropien" that may support human health.

The team will share what they learn through field days, presentations, and published reports to help boost both the production and enjoyment of Virginia‑grown blueberries.

Source: USDA news release found here (pdf)>>https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/SCBGP_Description_of_Funds_2026.pdf

Image Credit: Mark Stebnicki

10/06/2026

After the much needed rain this past weekend, today and tomorrow is strawberry transplanting time. New season, new reasons.

09/18/2026

At Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center site we took advantage of perfect soil moisture for bed making (thanks to the rainfall this past weekend) and started the bed making process for our beds for this season. Sharing a few photos from this week

09/01/2026

UV-C robots and bug vacuums in use for strawberry production: https://www.hortidaily.com/article/9868322/uv-c-robots-treat-over-1-500-acres-of-california-strawberries/?utm_medium=email

TRIC Robotics has expanded the use of autonomous robots equipped with UV-C light and bug vacuums in California strawberry fields. The company moved from trials covering half an acre in 2021…

08/24/2026

https://fruitgrowersnews.com/news/frozen-blueberry-recall-upgraded-to-fdas-highest-risk-level/?oly_enc_id=7798E8348467F8R

A recall of frozen blueberries and mixed berries sold at Publix has been upgraded to the FDA's highest health risk level. Learn more.

08/18/2026

Congratulations to Enrique Hernandez on successfully defending his Omals VT (Online Master's in Agriculture and Life Sciences) research project earlier today! Rick focused on comparing different pruning strategies on . Thanks to his committee members Yun Yin and Doug Pfeiffer for their guidance and encouragement. Rick managed to earn this degree while working a full time Virginia Cooperative Extension Ag. Agent in Fluvanna County, Virginia.

08/09/2026

Had a great time at the American Society for Horticultural Science annual conference last week in , catching up with colleagues, making new connection’s and sharing information from our research. I really enjoy attending this conference each year, as there is plenty to gain, no matter your discipline and interests within the domain of crop production be it **d science, sustainable , and more.

Thanks to the organizing team, for putting together such a great meeting!

07/29/2026

As we near the end of harvest season for blackberry and blueberry crops at Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center, I would like to thank the Virginia Tech Small fruit lab. folks for their hard work, enthusiasm, and dedication this spring and summer.

07/23/2026

Sharing our latest Virginia Cooperative Extension publication on . Now available to read and download at https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/pubs_ext_vt_edu/en/438/438-103/438-103.html

Thanks to Amy Burnett for taking the lead on writing this pub.

Blueberries, from the genus Vaccinium, are small fruits from the Ericaceae family that can be grown in the ground or in containers. They are incredibly versatile and are often used in baked goods, jams, and juices in addition to being eaten fresh. In Virginia, blueberries are a popular crop for the....

07/15/2026

Great to see my former graduate student lead research station in his new job at University of Wisconsin-Madison. All the best Danyang Liu!

Danyang Liu has been named superintendent of the Spooner Agricultural Research Station.