ATTRA is the national sustainable agriculture information service, operated by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through a grant from the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. These organizations do not recommend or endorse products, companies, or individuals. NCAT has offices in Fayetteville, Arkansas (P.O. Box 3657, Fayetteville, AR 72702), Butte, Montana, and Davis, California. By George L. Kuepper, Holly Born, Janet Bachmann NCAT Agriculture Specialists June 2003 Abstract: This publication focuses on organic practices for blackberry and raspberry production. Included are discussions of site selection and preparation; fertility; weed, disease, and insect management; greenhouse production of raspberries; and economics and marketing. Electronic and printed resources are provided. ORGANIC CULTURE OF BRAMBLE FRUITS Introduction This publication addresses the nuances in- volved in the production and marketing of or- ganic bramble fruit. As such, it does not deal with many of the basics of bramble culture, like varietal selection, pruning, and irrigation, which are largely the same under both organic and con- ventional management. For basic information on brambles, please contact your local Coopera- tive Extension. If you have not already done so, we encourage you to read ATTRA’s Overview of Organic Fruit Production; it provides valuable in- troductory information on organic fruit culture. ATTRA’s Overview of Organic Crop Production is also suggested. HORTICULTURE PRODUCTION GUIDE © 2003 ARS Introduction ........................................ 1 Untangling Brambles ............................ 2 Cultural Considerations ....................... 2 Weed Management ................................. 5 Fertility Management ........................... 6 Greenhouse Raspberry Production ........... 8 Diseases ................................................ 9 Insects ................................................. 11 Economics and Marketing ..................... 12 References ............................................. 14 Further Resources .................................. 16 Table of Contents