In this episode of “The Business of Blueberries,” host Kasey Cronquist, president of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (https://ushbc.blueberry.org (USHBC)) and the North American Blueberry Council (https://nabc.blueberry.org (NABC)), dives into the impact of two extreme weather patterns experienced over the past year in the Pacific Northwest. Between severe heat and flooding events, blueberry producers have been faced with significant obstacles and unknown outcomes. To provide more depth and insight into these severe weather events on the blueberry industry, we talk withhttps://www.bcblueberry.com/bc-blueberry-council/bcbc-staff ( Eric Gerbrandt, Ph.D.,) research director at the British Columbia Blueberry Council, and https://horticulture.wsu.edu/people/wasko-devetter/ (Lisa Wasko DeVetter, Ph.D.), associate professor of small fruit horticulture at Washington State University. “One of the main differences with this particular heat event was the rate that it came on. There was no ability for plants to acclimate to the extremely high temperatures that we had, and then the level or the degree of temperatures that we achieved. … at that point, you start to get UV damage and heat damage to the tissues of both the fruit and then also the leaf tissues. ” - Lisa Wasko DeVetter, Ph.D. “The short term was to see a lot of the young wood on these new plantings and even mature plantings that were under water for 8 to 10 feet for up to three weeks, that those tissues died. But then the longer term question is, OK, how's the root system doing? Is it going to be able to recover given the fact that the soil’s structure has also been negatively impacted? … We tried to parse out what you could recommend for different levels of severity of flooding. … We've got a range of potential management options there just depending on how strong the planting was and how old it was.” - Eric Gerbrandt, Ph.D. Topics covered include: The impact of the heat dome and the extreme flooding experienced over the last year. Management options based on the effects and severity of weather events. Ongoing research and options for producers going forward to prevent further losses. Pro tip: Dive further into the impacts of these events by reading the https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2181/2021/12/Severe-Flooding-in-the-Sumas-Flats-Final.pdf (Severe Flooding of Blueberry Fields in Southwestern British Columbia and Northwestern Washington). Crop Report The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout important blueberry growing areas. In this episode, you’ll hear from Elizabeth Carranza in California, Mario Ramirez in Mexico, Matt Macrie in New Jersey and Rex Schultz in Michigan. Blueberry Boost This week’s Blueberry Boost provides an update on the very first Blueberry Industry Leadership Program. The program’s fellows kicked off their journey last week in Seattle. USHBC/NABC Vice President of Engagement and Education Amanda Griffin provides an update.