Canadian Berry Trial Network - Ontario

Lead Applicant: John Zandstra

Research Priority: Competitive Production Systems - Improved Management Processes

Program Type: Tier 2

Funding Cycle: 2020/2021

Research Centre: Ontario Crops Research Centre - Cedar Springs, Ontario Crops Research Centre - Simcoe

Research Summary: The objective of the proposed research is to combine the expertise of Canadian growers, plant breeders, horticultural production researchers and extension specialists, to design a “Canadian Berry Trial Network.” The Canadian Berry Trial Network will be a collaborative framework for the routine testing of new small fruit selections in all of the major small fruit growing regions. This will ensure that the plants are evaluated using consistent, logical and rigorous methods, and are released as cultivars where they will be the most valuable to the Canadian industry. The project will involve strong collaboration between researchers and stakeholder organizations in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, which are the four major production regions of small fruits in Canada.  This project covers the Ontario portion of the Network.