This document was compiled by Stephanie Compton based on results from industry consulations throughout 2013.  The document includes recommendations for the Organic Fruit and Berry Network, and includes a detailed appendix with plant files for viable fruit and berry crops for the Atlantic region.  Each crop identified (including pome fruit, stone fruit, vitris fruit, fragaria fruit, rubus fruit, vaccinium fruits, ribes fruits, as well as  other new and unique fruit crops) have plant files that include information about strengths and opportunities, challenges for organic production, and where applicable, varietal information.

La plantation, l'émondage, l'espacement, la gestion des mauvaises herbes, la conservation

[English version of notes also available in the Resource directory.]

Many farmers worldwide rely on using pesticides and fungicides to protect their crops, which can be harmful and unsustainable. Professor Peter G Kevan, Dr Les Shipp and Professor Vernon G Thomas are exploring the potential of using pollinators as biovectors as a viable alternative.

Key words:  bee vectoring; pollination; grey mould; blight on strawberries and raspberries; fungus that causes mummy berry can obliterate blueberry crops; and greenhouse tomatoes and sweet peppers can be affected by tarnished plant bug (TPB), western flower thrips, whiteflies and green peach aphids.

Bob Bors (University of Saskatchewan) presents at the 2014 ACORN Conference

Bob Bors (University of Saskatchewan) presents at the 2014 ACORN Conference

Bob Bors (University of Saskatchewan) presents at the 2014 ACORN Conference

Claude Dubois (AEF Global) presents at the 2014 ACORN Conference.

View Claude Dubois's slideshow here.

Written by John C. Sutton PhD and Todd Mason. This work was supported in part by PEI Berries Ltd of Montague, Prince Edward Island in a project funded by the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) of the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada and PEIWBGA, and in part by Seeds of Diversity Canada of Waterloo, Ontario in a project funded by the Growing Forward 2 program of the Agricultural Adaptation Council.

Includes articles on the following:

• Exploring an NB Farmers’ Market Network by Tegan Renner
• Organic Profile: Slipp Farms 1784 Ltd.
• Bill C-18: The Agricultural Growth Act & Why It Matters by Keegan Smith
• ACORN Member Survey Results by Melanie Jellett
• CSA Trends in Atlantic Canada (Survey Results) by Laura Mather
• Project & Provincial Updates
• ACORN’s new Board
• Seasonal Food Fix
• Transition Q&A: Livestock in Orchards?
   

Includes articles on the following:

• Conference Speakers Q & A with Stacey Brenner & John Bliss, Michelle Summer Fike, Jack Lazor, Dr. Bob Bors, Chris Blanchard, and Harry Stoddart
• Quebec’s Innovative Strawberry Production Methods! by Theresa Richards, with contribution from Gerard Thébeau
• Reflections on the 3rd Beginner Farmer Symposium by David Fishman of Les Jardins Anicha
• Atlantic Canada’s (first!) Regional Seed Bank! by Steph Hughes
• Project & Provincial Updates
• Seasonal Food Fix by Roberto Gueli and Anke Kungl of Conscious Catering

The 2014-15 production year found the Atlantic Organic Sector meeting steady demands for growth, or in some cases, confronting more than demand for growth than can be met with existing production. Learn more about the state of the Atlantic Organic Sector in this report, including current and planned production, education and training needs, and market information.   

Presented by Andrew Mefferd at the 2015 ACORN Conference

View slideshow presentation here

Presented by Andrew Mefferd at the 2015 ACORN Conference

View slideshow presentation here

Presented by Andrew Mefferd, Editor, Growing for Market Magazine at the 2015 ACORN Conference

View slideshow presentation here

Presented by Bernadette Goguen, Ferme Marcel Goguen Farm at the 2015 ACORN Conference PEI

View slideshow here

Presented by Michael Lightfoot, Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards at the 2015 ACORN Conference PEI

View slideshow here

This workshop by Sandy and Paul Arnold of Pleasant Hill Farm, NY at the 2013 ACORN Conference in Moncton offers detailed instructions on how to grow strawberries from tips, the Arnold's new preferred method. It discusses the advantages of the annual bed system using tips as opposed to plugs, and draws comparisons with other methods such the matted system, which the Arnolds have also tried.

In this workshop from the 2013 ACORN Conference in Moncton, Claude Gélineau explores the potential for table grapes as an emerging fruit crop in eastern Canada. It discusses various table grape varieties and their particular characteristics, ideal growing conditions, cultivation techniques, and market potential.

This workshop from the 2013 ACORN Conference in Moncton discusses on-going research on the Spotted Wing Drosophila – a fairly recent invasive pest in the Atlantic Region. Early detection and identification, damage mitigation and prevention, and organic treatment options are the main points of discussion.

In this session from the 2013 ACORN Conference in Moncton, Jean-Pierre Prive discussed season extension techniques using various protected structures including high and low tunnels, row covers and rain covers, as well as cultural practices and cultivar selection for raspberries. He compared the Maritimes to BC, which traditionally produces an abundance of this crop. Through his talk he frequently reminded the audience to cultivate the scientific mindset and to always experiment, test, and adjust growing techniques and practices, as well as varieties selected.

In this session from the 2013 ACORN Conference in Moncton, Julia Reekie provides an overview of her experimental Honey Crisp apple orchard planted at Kentville in 2006, detailing research projects exploring effective pest, disease, and weed management strategies for organic production.

The Tree Fruit Symposium at the 2013 ACORN Conference in Moncton consisted of a three-part presentation from Ken Taylor of Green Barn Farm. Taylor’s talk was broken into three sections (Transitioning to a Diverse Orchard, Designing/Planting the Orchard, and Orchard Interventions) with the strongest emphasis being placed on orchard diversification and reducing inputs and interventions in orchard crop production.

­Food forest gardening does not mean gardening in a forest, but like a forest. It is an imitation of a woodland ecosystem, focusing medicinal and edible plants that thrive together. Unlike dedicated gardens, they are low maintenance while still offering an abundance of food and medicine. At the 2016 Homesteading Symposium in Dieppe, Estelle Drisdelle shares her insight and years of experience on maintaining food forests and guilds.

Robert St-Arnaud presents at the 2016 ACORN Conference.

View the accompanying slideshow presentation here

Wayne Edgar presents at the 2016 ACORN Conference.

View the accompanying slideshow presentation here

Andy Hammermeister presents at the 2016 ACORN Conference.

View the accompanying slideshow presentation here.

Beth Fowler and Clay Bartlett present at the 2016 Conference.

View the accompanying slideshow presentation here.

Brian Boates presents at the 2016 ACORN Conference.

Jean-Pierre Privé of Plant Medic speaks at the ACORN Conference about how raspberries grown under cover offer not just water protection but also the promise of greater yields.

Kevin Graham talks about growing peaches in Nova Scotia at the 2017 ACORN Conference.

A resource from Ontartio's Ministry of Agriculture and Food by Pam Fisher - Berry Crop Specialist/OMAF and MRA. 

These articles first appeared in the special Summer 2012 research edition of The Canadian Organic Grower, produced in collaboration between OACC and COG. This special issue is brought to you with the support of the Organic Science Cluster. The Organic Science Cluster projects described in this article are funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and industry partners.

Canada's Organic Science Cluster (OSC) is part of the Canadian Agri-Science Cluster Initiative of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Growing Forward Policy Framework. Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. The OSC is led by the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada and the lead industry applicant, the Organic Federation of Canada.

Canada’s Organic Science Cluster (OSC) ran from 2009-2013, and was a collaborative effort led jointly by the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC) at Dalhousie University's Agricultural Campus and the Organic Federation of Canada (OFC). The Organic Science Cluster is part of theCanadian Agri-Science Clusters Initiative of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Growing ForwardPolicy Framework and is supported by contributions from industry partners.

The goals of the Organic Science Cluster are to facilitate a national strategic approach to organic science in Canada, link scientists across the country and disseminate the knowledge generated to organic stakeholders.

The Organic Science Cluster identified 10 sub-projects, including 30 research activities that were conducted by over 50 researchers plus 30 collaborators in approximately 45 research institutions. Activities of the Organic Science Cluster included work in fruit horticulture, agronomy, cereal crop breeding, soil fertility management, vegetable production, greenhouse production, dairy production systems, parasite control in ruminants, environmental sustainability, and food processing.

This research came at a time when there was renewed emphasis on innovation, efficiency (energy, labour, economics), and capturing value-added markets. Most of this research directed toward organic agriculture can also be applied to conventional production systems, drawing interest to this cluster from producers across Canada.