Gain insight into the wonderful world of berry production – from strawberries to blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, gooseberries, goji berries and more! This course is ideal for horticulture students, commercial growers, berry farm staff, and hobby gardeners who want to start their own berry patch.

The Introduction to Berry Production is a professional development course that will teach you the botanical characteristics of berries, varieties to grow, and how to plant, stake, mulch, water, feed and protect and prune them as a commercial enterprise.

In this fruit production course, you will learn which berries best varieties to grow in your region; study how to determine propagation, irrigation and weed control; and explore harvest and market and navigate the management of a commercial berry growing business.

This fruit production course lays the foundations for growing many types of berries, emphasising commercial berry crops – so what are you waiting for? Take a look at the learning outcomes and start your fruitful career today! 

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a fruit production course include:

• Distinguish between common and botanical definitions for the term berry
• Compare the botanical characteristics of berry fruits
• Develop criteria for the selection of suitable berry fruit varieties.
• Evaluate the performance of four different berry varieties.
• Determine appropriate varieties of different berries to grow in a specified locality
• Describe an appropriate planting method for each of three specified genera of berry fruits.
• Illustrate appropriate pruning methods
• Determine appropriate irrigation practices
• Develop feeding programs
• Conduct simple soil tests to determine soil characteristics relevant to a proposed berry planting.
• Recommend appropriate soil preparation for the tested soil, before planting a specified berry crop.
• Compare weed control practices appropriate for specified berry crops.
• Develop soil maintenance programs
• Identify different health disorders (e.g. pests and diseases) on berry plants.
• Develop a pest and disease control program
• Describe different methods for propagating specified berry plants, including:
• Demonstrate cutting propagation
• Produce marketable berry plants
• Compare the commercial viability of propagating berries
• Determine when different types of berries are ready for harvest
• Describe different methods for harvesting
• Explain the harvesting of five types of berries before they are ripe, and ripening of the berries off the plant
• Determine appropriate post-harvest treatments for a specified commercial berry crop
• Develop a resource file of different items of information relevant to the berry fruit industry
• Determine criteria which are significant in the commercial success of a specific berry farm
• Explain how a range of five different berries is prepared for the market.
• Prepare a chart of ten different berry species that lists their shelf life.
• Evaluate the commercial viability of three different methods of packaging and presenting berries for sale.
• Compare common marketing strategies for berry fruits
• Develop a marketing plan

And more!

16 Berry Fun Facts!

Berries are deliciously fun to learn about, but you’ll discover more when you undertake our fruit production course!

1. The little hairs on raspberries and blackberries are called ‘styles’. Styles are left over from the berry blossom and protect the berry.
2. A true ‘berry’ is a fruit that grows from one flower with one ovary, making blueberries, tomatoes, bananas and avocados true berries! Strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are grown from a flower with more than one ovary so are considered ‘aggregate fruits.’
3. There are about 200 tiny seeds on each strawberry.
4. The dusty-sliver colour on blueberries is a natural barrier that seals in moisture, which is called ‘bloom’.
5. Did you know a strawberry can clone itself? To reproduce, strawberries can shoot off-runners and clone themselves multiple times.
6. The little bumps (also known as drupletes) on a blackberry or raspberry are determined by a bee. The number of drupletes on a berry is connected to the number of times a bee has landed the berry flower to pollinate it!
7. There are over 200 different varieties of raspberries!
8. Raspberries and blackberries are aggregate fruits, which means you’re eating many tiny individual fruits growing together.
9. Batology is the scientific study of blackberries.
10. The strawberry is a close relative to the rose! They both belong to the Fragraria family, which means fragrant.
11. Strawberries might help your head — they contain salicylates, which is an ingredient in aspirin.
12. Raspberries aren’t always red – they actually come in yellow, purple, black and even gold!
13. Blueberries were called ‘star-fruits’ by North American indigenous peoples because of the star shape at the berry’s blossom end.
14. Americans have a National Blueberry Pie Day – on April 28 each year. Yum!
15. Berries may boost brain power – they are linked to brain health, reduce inflammation, protect cells from free radicals and more.
16. The goji berry has the highest Vitamin C in the world!

 

Bountiful Health Benefits of Berries!

Berries of all varieties pack a powerful nutritional punch. They are rich in fibre, which is vital in the gut and digestive health, and antioxidant-rich!

Berries may play an essential role in:

Brain health – eating more fruits and vegetables, particularly berries, seems to protect the brain. Compounds found in berries not only protect the brain from oxidative stress but also counteract advanced glycation end-products called AGEs, which have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

Immune boosting – Blueberries contain flavonoids, a type of antioxidant that helps reduce damage to cells and boost the immune system. In some lab studies, elderberry extract appears to block flu viruses!

Blood pressure – Eating just one cup of blueberries or strawberries a week may lower your blood pressure. Anthocyanins — found mainly in fruits and vegetables such as blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, seem to protect against high blood pressure, according to a team of British and American nutritionists. The researchers found that people who ate at least one serving of blueberries a week were 10 per cent less likely to develop high blood pressure than study participants who ate no blueberries.

 

Gain a comprehensive understanding of berry production for commercial purposes with a fruit production course, such as our Introduction to Berry Production.