Oregon Berry Growers Get Controlled-Growing Study

Blueberry, raspberry, blackberry and strawberry growers will see a state-specific guide to tunnels, greenhouses and enclosed production.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Organic Food

Isometric editorial illustration of arched white hoop-house tunnels over rows of berry bushes on flat farmland, with forested hills in the distance. — The Northwest Berry Foundation received a $207,082 USDA grant to study controlled-environment berry production for Oregon growers, with findings due at a grower workshop. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Is now a good time for local farms to invest in greenhouses or tunnels?

The Northwest Berry Foundation received a $207,082 USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant to study controlled-environment berry production for Oregon growers. The two-and-a-half-year project was one of 13 Oregon awards announced October 14, 2026, that share nearly $2.7 million in 2026 block grant funds.

Why it matters

Pacific Northwest growing conditions are becoming less predictable, labor is shifting, and buyers expect consistent, high-quality fruit, so growers have been looking for ways to stabilize production. Oregon growers have had no Oregon-specific framework for choosing among controlled-environment options, which this study aims to provide.

This is a funding allocation for a planned study, not a completed trial, so no yield or cost results exist yet. The project will begin with a grower survey and interviews with growers, input suppliers and other industry participants before modeling outcomes across production systems.

The players

Northwest Berry Foundation

A regional berry-industry organization that will lead the controlled-environment production study for Oregon growers.

Oregon Department of Agriculture

The state agency that administers the USDA grant and announced the 13 Oregon awards.

Delphy AgAdvisory

A horticultural advisory firm serving soft-fruit growers, serving as primary technical contractor on the study.

The details

The study will model yield, cost and risk across a range of enclosure types, from tunnels through greenhouses to fully enclosed production, covering blueberry, raspberry, blackberry and strawberry growers in Oregon. The primary technical contractor, Delphy AgAdvisory, draws on trials of high- and mid-tech substrate production at the Delphy Innovative Soft Fruit Centre in Horst, Netherlands. Findings will be presented at an interactive industry workshop for growers and stakeholders to review and give feedback.

October 14, 2026: Oregon Department of Agriculture announced the 13 Oregon awards.
Two-and-a-half-year period: Duration of the Pathways to Controlled Environment Production study.

Health Landscape

Berries are a nutrient-dense crop, and steady, year-round domestic supply depends on how growers adapt production to climate variability. Controlled-environment systems such as tunnels and greenhouses are a growing option in soft-fruit production, though their suitability varies by crop and region.

This study is aimed at growers, so near-term effects for consumers are indirect and will take time to appear. If you eat Oregon-grown berries, the research may eventually support a steadier local supply, which is worth considering alongside your own produce choices.

The takeaway

Growing berries under controlled conditions is being studied for Oregon's specific climate and economics, not assumed to be a one-size-fits-all answer. Readers interested in how fruit is grown can ask their local produce sellers where berries are grown and under what production methods.

What happens next

Findings will be presented at an interactive industry workshop for growers and stakeholders, and a roadmap for future Phase II applied research and pilots will be shared with the results.