Blueberry open house attracts farmers to Kearney

Manuel Jimenez, University of California Cooperative Extension advisor in Tulare County, hosted the annual spring blueberry open house at the UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center May 23.

The event featured a tasting tour of dozens of blueberry varieties, review of an ongoing mulch variety trial, information about hoop houses and a first look at a new research project in which the most commonly grown commercial blueberries are grafted on a rootstock with greater tolerance for California's alkaline soils. Read more about the blueberry rootstock trial on the UC Food Blog.

Manuel Jimenez lead a tour of the 12-year-old blueberry variety trial.

Manuel Jimenez leads a tour of the 15-year-old blueberry research plot.

Two of the treatments in a blueberry mulch trial are woven plastic (left) and walk-on bark.

Dominic Criscenti, regional manager of Haygrove Tunnels, explains the products versatility. The company donated tunnels for research at Kearney.

Dominic Criscenti (far right), regional manager of Haygrove Tunnels, explains the product's versatility. The company donated tunnels for research at Kearney.

A two-month-old falcon demonstrated biological bird control at the blueberry open house.

Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 8:19 AM

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Author: Jeannette E. Warnert

Tags: blueberries (6), Manuel Jimenez (6)

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