Berry and Potato Pathology

The Berry and Potato Pathology (BPP) program at the WSU Mount Vernon Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center pivots on two commodity crops: highbush blueberry and potato.

Highbush blueberry production in Washington has more than doubled in the past decade. Washington now leads the nation producing 26% of US blueberries and generating an annual revenue of $205 million USD. Another crop of economic significance in northwestern Washington is potato. Fresh market potatoes are the most widely grown crop in Skagit County, produced on about 11,000 acres with a farm gate value of $70 million USD. In addition, northwestern Washington has a designated seed potato isolation district to ensure the production of superior quality seed potatoes. The mild maritime climate in this region, coupled with new production and pest management issues, pose unique challenges to both blueberry and potato growers.

The goal of the BPP program is to conduct research based on needs identified by stakeholders to develop and share plant disease management strategies.