Virginia Tech. Small Fruit Program at Hampton Roads AREC

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.

07/13/2026

Super proud of my Ph.D. student Thomas Gentry (photo taken at our berry field day) on receiving the 2026 NACTA (North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture) Graduate Teaching Award. Thomas was able to receive this award on June 24 at the NACTA annual conference held this year at Mississippi State University

07/13/2026

❄️ Spring frost and freeze losses? Help may be available.

Virginia producers in eligible counties may qualify for USDA disaster assistance, including Emergency Loans and other recovery support.

🔗 Find your local FSA office: farmers.gov/service-center-locator
🔗 Contact VA FAIRS with any questions: www.vafairs.com

07/10/2026

July is Virginia Blueberry Month! Recent drought conditions and late spring frost have made this a challenging growing season for many Virginia farmers, which means they need our support more than ever. Make plans to visit a Virginia blueberry farm, but call ahead to verify current crop availability and picking hours. Let’s show up for our farmers!