2026 Conference Presentations
**Subject to change**
Wednesday, February 11th & Thursday, February 12th
Breeding Session Presentations
Session Chair: Ellen Thompson, Hortifrut Genetics, LLC
- Yunwen Wang, Driscoll’s – Delight: Driscoll’s Blackberry Breeding Pursuit of Flavor
- Michael Hardigan, USDA – Breeding Program Update
- Courtney Weber, Cornell University – What’s New in the Cornell Berry Breeding Program?
- Carmen Johns, University of Arkansas – University of Arkansas Blackberry Breeding Program Update
- Michael Dossett, BC Berry Cultivar Development Inc (BCBCDI) – What’s New in the BC Breeding Program?
- Christopher Winterbottom, GoodFarms – The GoodFarms Raspberry Breeding Program – A New ‘Open Source’ For Raspberry Cultivars
Production Management Session Presentations
Session Chair: Lisa DeVetter, Washington State University
- Agehara Shinsuke, University of Florida – Overcoming Insufficient Winter Chilling in Blackberry through Chemical Budbreak Induction
- David Bryla, USDA – Water and Nutrient Management Updates for Raspberry and Blackberry
- Jorden Eade-Remo, Primus Auditing Ops – Transitioning to PrimusGFS V.4.0: Updates, Expectations & Best Practices
- Joshua Mays, TriEst Ag Group – Annual Raspberry Production in the Southeast – Update from Experiences in the Field
- Lisa DeVetter, Washington State University – Heat Stress Mitigation of Raspberry Using Biostiumlants, Evaporative Cooling, and Shade Cloth
- Jesse Carroll, Missouri State University – Evaluating New Oregon Blackberry Cultivars for Production in the Midwest
New Technology Session Presentations
Session Chair: Renee Threlfall, University of Arkansas
- Matthew Clark, University of Minnesota / Vitis Gen3 – Resistance Breeding and Beyond with Robotics and Image Analysis
- Anthony Gunderman, University of Arkansas – Developing Robotic Technologies for Harvesting Fresh-Market Caneberries
- Gordon Robertson, Fresh Inset – Enhance Your Packaging to Extend Freshness: A New Twist on a Proven Technology
- Davide Sosso, Heritable Agriculture – The Rubus Renaissance: How AI is Unlocking the Full Potential of Raspberry and Blackberry Breeding
Pest and Disease Session Presentations
Session Chair: Sara Villani, North Carolina State University
- Maher Al Rwahnih, UC Davis – The Future is Now: Advances in Virus Diagnostics at Clean Plant Centers
- Lindsey Theissen, Clemson University – Beyond the Spray: Integrated Strategies to Beat Fungicide Resistance
- Sara Villani, North Carolina State University – Fusarium Wilt of Blackberry
- Aaron Cato, University of Arkansas – Managing Arthropod Pests in Blackberry: Evaluating Drone Sprayers, Surveying Eriophyid Mites, and Evaluating New Pesticides to Solve Old Problems
- Jenny Broome, UC Santa Cruz – New IPM Programming in Caneberry for the Western Region
Plant Management Session Presentations
Session Chairs: Whitney Phillips Howell, PhyllaTech LLC and Pete Rizzo, Nourse Farms
- Hannah Lepsch, North Carolina State University – Evaluating Abscisic Acid for Freeze Injury Mitigation in Blackberry Systems
- Scott Lukas, Oregon State University – Impact of Primocane Management and Plant Spacing on Planting Performance and Net Returns of ‘Columbia Star’ Blackberry
- Jose Ramirez, Impello Biosciences – Leveraging the Synergy Between Plant Nutrients and Biostimulants to Increase Yield and Quality of Caneberries
- Lisa Rayburn, North Carolina State University – Evaluating Cane Density and Lateral Thinning to Optimize Production and Labor Efficiency in Long Cane Production of Kwanzaa Raspberry
General Session Presentations
- Tom Spaulding, Pairwise – Update on Pairwise Trials of High-Yielding and Seedless Blackberries
- Dr. John R. Clark, University of Arkansas, Retired – Perspective on Global Trends in Breeding & Industry
Regional Berry Tour
- The Santa Maria Berry Growing Region Tour is included in the cost of your conference ticket. This will take place on the second half of the day on Thursday, February 12th. Transportation and a boxed lunch will be provided. Tour stops are being confirmed and we will send out details shortly!
And more to come! Presentations are subject to change and this page will be updated as speakers and presentations are confirmed. Contact info@raspberryblackberry.com with any questions!
Tuesday, February 27th,
8:00am – 9:00am | Registration & Exhibitor Sessions – Wilmington Convention Center, River Concourse
Salons D/E – Wilmington Convention Center
9:00am – 9:10am | Conference Welcome – Amanda McWhirt, NARBA President
9:10am – 9:35am | Opening Remarks – Gina Fernandez, North Carolina State University
Transition to breakout sessions.
Salons D/E
Breeding Session | Chair: Michael Hardigan
9:40am – 10:05am | Courtney Weber, Cornell AgriTech – Cornell Caneberry Breeding Update
10:05am – 10:30am | Margaret Worthington, University of Arkansas – Updates and New Releases from the Arkansas Blackberry Breeding Program
10:30am – 10:55am | Wendy Hoashi-Erhardt, Washington State University – Raspberry Breeding Update from Washington
10:55am – 11:20am | Ellen Thompson, Hortifrut – Breeding for Premium Berries
Salon F
Long Cane Production Management Session | Chair: Gina Fernandez
9:40am – 10:05am | Joshua Mays, TriEst Ag Group – Longcane Production – Fertility Management
10:05am – 10:30am | Lisa Rayburn, North Carolina State University – Evaluating Pine Bark as an Alternative to Coco Coir for Long-Cane Production of Raspberries in the Southeast – An Update
10:30am – 10:55am | Jamie Petchell, Global Plant Genetics – Long Cane Blackberry Production in Europe
10:55am – 11:20am | Dr. Brian Jackson, North Carolina State University (Presented by Brandan Shur, North Carolina State University) – Elevating Your Production: Substrates for Soilless Fruit Production
Salons D/E
11:30am – 11:55am | Keynote, Steve Troxler – North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner
12:00pm – 1:00pm | Lunch – Salons A/B/C
12:45pm – 1:15pm | Exhibitor Session & Poster Session – River Concourse
Salons D/E
Breeding Session (continued)
1:15pm – 1:40pm | Beatrice Amyotte, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – New Goals for Caneberry Breeding at Agriculture Canada
1:40pm – 2:05pm | Michael Hardigan, USDA-ARS – Caneberry Breeding Updates from Oregon
2:05pm – 2:30pm | Breeding Panel / Continued Questions & Answers
New Technology Session | Chair: Ryan Dickson
2:30pm – 2:55pm | Ioannis (Yannis) Tzanetakis, University of Arkansas – Clean Plants and Blackberry Leaf Mottle Virus Epidemiology
Salon F
North Carolina Caneberry Industry Session | Chair: Karen Blaedow
1:15pm – 1:40pm | Tom Kon, North Carolina State University – Enhancing Blackberry Canopy Light Distribution with Reflective Groundcovers
1:40pm – 2:05pm | Juan Carlos Melgar, Clemson University – Blackberry Responses to Light: How Much is Too Much?
2:05pm – 2:30pm | Lisa Rayburn, North Carolina State University – Long-Cane Raspberry Production in NC – Opportunities and Challenges
2:30pm – 2:55pm | Jamie Lanzalotto, North Carolina State University (Presented by Sara Villani, North Carolina State University) – Fusarium Wilt of Blackberry
2:55pm – 3:10pm | Refreshment Break – River Concourse
Salons D/E
New Technology Session (continued)
3:10pm – 3:35pm | Amanda McWhirt, University of Arkansas – Recommendations for Reducing Labor and Maximizing Yield on the Rotating Cross Arm Trellis
3:35pm – 4:00pm | Renee Threlfall, University of Arkansas – Using Marketability Attributes for the Initial Development of a Soft Robotic Gripper for Harvesting Fresh-market Blackberries
4:00pm – 4:25pm | Lars Jensen, Blackmore Company – Ellepot/Air Tray Technologies for Berry Crops
4:25pm – 4:50pm | Matthew Bertucci, University of Arkansas – Blackberry Weed Management – New Chemistries and New Technologies
4:50pm – 5:15pm | Dr. Muneer Rehman, University of Florida – Integration Of Chitosan Emulsion and Silicon to Extend the Shelf Life of Blackberry Fruit
Salon F
North Carolina Caneberry Industry Session (Continued)
3:10pm – 3:35pm | Karen Blaedow & Frank Louws, North Carolina State University – NC Caneberry Association Annual Business Meeting
Pest & Disease Control Session | Chair: Aaron Cato
3:35pm – 4:00pm | Sara Villani, North Carolina State University – Problems in Ponca? Case Studies on Recent Cane Dieback
4:00pm – 4:25pm | Cesar Rodriguez-Saona, Rutgers University – Role of Climate Variation on the Population Dynamics of Spotted-Wing Drosophila
4:25pm – 4:50pm | Aaron Cato, University of Arkansas – Evaluating Broad Mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus) Sampling Techniques in Blackberry
4:50pm – 5:15pm | Fumi Takeda, Research Horticulturist (USDA-ARS, Retired) – Ultraviolet Light: Non-Chemical Disease and Pest Management
5:15pm – 5:35pm | Exhibitor Session & Poster Session – River Concourse
WedNEsday, February 28th
8:00am – 8:15am | Exhibitor Session – River Concourse
Salons D/E
8:20am – 8:25am | Day 2 Welcome
8:25am – 8:50am | Dr. Daniel Tregeagle, North Carolina State University – 2023 Raspberry & Blackberry Pricing Survey Preliminary Report
8:50am – 9:10am | Elena Rogers, North Carolina State University – Food Safety Update – Timely Topics and Reminders
9:10am – 9:30am | Grower Spotlight – Cal Lewis, Lewis Nursery and Farms, Inc.
9:30am – 9:45am | NARBA Annual Meeting – NARBA Executive Council Officers Report
9:45am – 10:05am | Refreshment Break & Exhibitor Session – River Concourse
Salons D/E
Plant Management Session | Chair: Lisa Rayburn
10:05am – 10:30am | Timothy Glotfelty, North Carolina State Climate Office – The Potential Impact of Climate Change on Chill Hours in North Carolina
10:30am – 10:55am | Sarah Strauss, University of Florida IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center – Below the Plastic: What Happens to Soil Microbes After Fumigation
10:55am – 11:20am | Joshua Mays, TriEst Ag Group – Fumigation Programs for Rubus – Discussing Soil Pest and Soil Health Impacts
11:20am – 11:45am | Penelope Perkins-Veazie, North Carolina State University – Does Location Affect Fruit Composition of Raspberry and Blackberry?
Salon F
Pest & Disease Control Session (Continued from Day 1)
10:05am – 10:30am | Elizabeth Cieniewicz, Clemson University – Survey of Known Viruses and Discovery of New Viruses in Blackberry and Wild Rubus in South Carolina
10:30am – 10:55am | Dr. Hannah K. Levenson, North Carolina State University – Incorporating Biological Control into IPM Programs for SWD in Caneberries
10:55am – 11:20am | Alfredo Diaz-Lara, Tecnológico de Monterrey – Adoption of a Standardized Virus Diagnostic Protocol for Blackberry and Raspberry in Mexico and Later Validation Through a Field Survey
11:20am – 11:45am | Pest & Disease Panel / Continued Questions & Answers
CONFERENCE CONCLUDES
11:45am – 12:15pm | Boxed Lunch Pickup – River Concourse
12:30pm – 8:00pm | North Carolina Farm & Industry Tour
The NC Farm Tour buses will leave promptly at 12:30pm on Wednesday, February 28th. It is very important you are ready to depart at that time. We will start loading the buses as early as 12:15pm.
NOTE: This add-on ticket is SOLD OUT. If you wish to be added to the waiting list for last minute cancellations, please email info@raspberryblackberry.com
- A boxed lunch will be provided at 11:45am after the conference is finished, to be picked up outside the conference rooms.
- The tour will visit 3 locations:
- STOP 1: Castle Hayne Horticulture Crops Research Station, North Carolina State University
- STOP 2: The Carolina Berry Group
- STOP 3: Lewis Nursery and Farms for a tour, low country boil and BBQ
- Plan to wear layers of clothing appropriate to tour fields and be outside for the entire afternoon, including dinner, weather permitting.
- The group will arrive back at 8:30pm to the Embassy Suites.