What: UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center hosts a free blackberry field day to demonstrate production practices such as proper planting, pruning, and fertilization.
Where: UF/IFAS North Florida Research & Education Center 155 Research Rd Quincy, FL 32351
When: 8:30 – 11: 45 a.m. ET, Thursday, June 18, 2026.
Cost: Free when registered at the Eventbrite link. Please note that space is very limited. https://2026blackberryfieldday.eventbrite.com/
Media RSVP contact: Danielle Williams at dsprague@ufl.edu or 850-875-7255.
About:
Community members and industry specialists are invited to join experts and researchers at UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy, Fl, for a free, hands-on field day. Guests will enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at how researchers and Extension experts are studying how to grow blackberries successfully in Florida conditions.
Blackberries may seem like a simple summer fruit, but behind the scenes, researchers are working to make them easier and more profitable to grow. Their work shows that improved growing practices like better pruning, fertilization, and variety selection can help make blackberry production more viable and productive across the state.
Guests will learn more about plant breeding programs aimed at improving berry quality and resilience, disease management strategies and underscores growing interest in blackberries as a new specialty crop for Southern growers seeking alternative income streams.
Live demonstrations and field tours will be offered for the opportunity to turn academic research into practical, visual learning that connects directly to local impact across farmers markets, grocery stores, and U-pick farms.
Learn simple, practical ways to grow better blackberries, whether you’re a farmer or a backyard gardener. Blackberry Field Day will show how small changes can lead to healthier plants, bigger harvests and lower costs, and introduce new berry varieties that thrive in warm climates.
Guests will leave with easy ideas that they can try right away, plus inspiration for how berries can add value at home or on the farm.
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ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
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