We work on many different aspects of fruit production here at the University of Minnesota. From apple rootstocks and season extension to attracting pollinators and managing weeds, our work covers a broad range of topics important to commercial growers, home gardeners, and all fruit eaters. Here, you can stay up-to-date on the latest research.
Performance of Junebearing strawberry cultivars: 2019-2022
January 27, 2023
The latest look at strawberry cultivar trials, and how they have been performing at our two research centers.
Junebearing strawberry variety trial results 2019-2021
January 27, 2022
Variety testing is an important part of the research we do at the U of MN. We put classic and newer varieties to the test to determine how they stand up to challenges specific to different areas of the state.
Quantities of quality: Fruit quality of kiwiberry in Minnesota
August 4, 2021
Quantity or quality? Fruit growers rely on both, but how is quality measured?
Timing is everything: Harvesting kiwiberries in Minnesota
August 4, 2021
Harvesting can be tricky for a fruit that doesn’t change color. So how do we know when a kiwiberry is ready to harvest?
Insect repellents for berries
April 29, 2021
Can spraying essential oils protect ripening berries from invasive spotted-wing drosophila?
Germination: Dissuasion for invasion?
December 1, 2020
The ability for a plant to become invasive depends on a number of factors like growth rate, flower longevity, and reproductive capability. Seed germination falls under this last category and may be telling about the future of kiwiberry production.
Testing tabletop strawberries in the Upper Midwest
August 24, 2020
Are you interested in growing strawberries with reduced labor or on marginal land? We are testing a raised gutter growing system to meet those goals.
Consumer curiosity and the case of the kiwiberry
August 17, 2020
How do you market a new fruit that most people have never tried? Read more to find out how kiwiberries are piquing consumer interest.
Tropical flavors and a polar vortex: How kiwiberry buds survive frigid temperatures
July 15, 2020
Exploring the invasiveness potential of kiwiberry
February 12, 2020
Kiwiberry is an exciting new fruit crop for Minnesota. Our researchers are working on the many aspects of growing kiwiberry, which includes evaluating the plant for invasive potential.