Mr. Jari Vilppula grows Raspberries on 2 ha under plastic tunnels in Asikkala (Finland). “My father started strawberry farming in 1972, and nowadays the farm has passed on to my brother and me. We have specialized in growing strawberries and raspberries. The freshness and the quality control throughout the whole chain of production, from the field to the consumer, is the most important thing to us”, states Mr. Vilppula.
In order to insure the sustainability of his production, Mr. Vilppula opted for an integrated pest management strategy. For the control of aphids, he uses BerryProtect. Jari explains: “BerryProtect is an excellent solution for aphid control in raspberries. It controls all the aphid species found on the farm. Because the canopy of the crop can be very dense, it is very difficult to spray with an insecticide. On the contrary, the parasitic wasps can reach the aphids on any part of the plant. Using parasitoids for aphid control, hence not using insecticide, also allows me to safely use other beneficials for other pests improving the global biological equilibrium in the crop. Furthermore, with BerryProtect, residues and harvest interval are no longer a concern.  No doubt that BerryProtect will become the base of my aphid control strategy.”

Southesk Farm is a soft fruit farm situated in Brechin (Scotland), growing strawberries and blueberries for the Angus Growers group. It applies the principles of IPM (integrated pest management) to all its crops. Crop production manager James Grantham uses BerryProtect to control aphids in the blueberries. “The mix of parasitoids is very efficient at controlling aphids in the blueberries,” says James. “There are only a few insecticides available for blueberries. Especially at the end of the season, when the canopy is extremely dense, it is difficult to spray all of the leaves with insecticides. In these conditions, parasitic wasps are the only way to reach all the aphids. By reducing the need for chemical insecticides, BerryProtect also preserves the other beneficials active in the crop. The product is easy to use and, with some precautions, can be easily combined with conventional products. And, of course, BerryProtect leaves no residue”. James concludes: “A useful product within an IPM programme in blueberries”.

Susanne Früh, crop advisor at the producers’ association “Obstgroβmarkt Mittelbaden” in Oberkirch (Germany), grows raspberries and blackberries for variety tests in tunnels. Pests are controlled with as less pesticides as possible. The application of pesticides in the tight vegetation being very difficult, Mrs Früh chooses to use beneficial insects, as they can find and fight the pests even in these dense berry crops. Particularly aphid control has been a major problem in raspberries and blackberries in tunnels. Since BerryProtect is available, Mrs Früh uses this parasitoid mix with good results: ”It is a very well thought concept – from the composition of the different parasitoid species for controlling all aphids in berry crops to the design of the tubes for easy application. And I am glad that I participated with my comments in the development of the release stations: the entire system is really optimal and – most important – user friendly.”