About NCSFR

In the Pacific Northwest, small fruits and grape production is more than agriculture — it is a regional system of growers, researchers, industry partners, and stakeholders working together to solve real challenges.

200+ Research Projects Funded

34 Years of Continuous Operation

$6M+ Distributed in the Last 5 Years

WA · OR · ID Serving Three States

The Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research (NCSFR) exists to make that system work. We were created to ensure that research is not disconnected from the realities of the field — that the questions being studied reflect what growers and industry actually need, and that findings reach the people who can act on them.

NCSFR operates at the intersection of industry need and federal, state, and private research capacity. We work as a collective team to be efficient with limited resources alongside stakeholders from Washington, Oregon, and Idaho to establish research priorities that reflect real production challenges — then support the applied research that addresses those priorities, and communicate what is learned.

What We Do

What NCSFR Actually Does

NCSFR plays three interconnected roles in the small fruits, grapes, and speciality crops research system. Each one depends on the others.

We Set Priorities

We work with industry stakeholders to identify which challenges matter most for small fruits, grapes, and speciality crops producers in the region. These priorities guide what research we support.

We Fund Research

We support applied research projects at regional universities and institutions — projects that are directly relevant to the challenges growers and industry members face every day.

We Share Outcomes

We make research findings accessible through fact sheets, project reports, conference presentations, and other communications — so the knowledge reaches the people who can use it.

Research greenhouse and laboratory at a Pacific Northwest university

Our History

Thirty Years of Regional Research

The Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research was established in 1992 to support the growing needs of the Pacific Northwest small fruits industry. From the beginning, NCSFR was designed as a regional collaboration — bringing together land-grant universities, federal research programs, and industry stakeholders to focus on applied research that could directly impact production. Today, NCSFR operates with administrative headquarters in the greater Portland area, Oregon, and works closely with Oregon State University, Washington State University, the University of Idaho, and USDA-ARS.

USDA researcher explaining findings in the laboratory

Our Mission

Research That Serves the Industry

The mission of the Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research is to enhance the sustainability and profitability of the berry, grape, wine, and specialty crop industries through research and the dissemination of information.

NCSFR focuses on:

Blueberries
Raspberries
Blackberries
Strawberries
Table grape viticulture
Wine & juice grape viticulture
Wine processing
Specialty crops

Researcher conducting applied research at laboratory bench

How NCSFR Works

Industry Input Shapes Every Funding Decision

NCSFR operates as a coordinated system where industry input directly shapes research outcomes. Each year, stakeholders from across the Pacific Northwest come together to identify and update research priorities, guide how funding is allocated, and ensure that research stays aligned with real-world grower challenges. These priorities inform a competitive research process where proposals are evaluated and funded based on their relevance and potential impact. The result is a continuous cycle connecting the people who need answers with the researchers who can find them.

Support & Structure

How NCSFR Is Governed

NCSFR is guided by volunteer leadership drawn from the research and industry communities it serves. Three committees ensure that operations, priorities, and federal relationships are all managed with accountability.

Coordinating Committee

Oversees the general operations, strategic planning, and contracted activities of NCSFR. This volunteer committee provides leadership and direction, with chairs elected annually at the NCSFR annual meeting.

Stakeholder Council

A group of industry and research representatives responsible for updating research priorities each year. Each commodity group is co-led by one research chair and one industry chair, ensuring balanced input from both sides.

Liaison Committee (SFIC)

The Small Fruits Industry Consortium Liaison Committee represents the Pacific Northwest in federal discussions. Each year, the committee travels to Washington, D.C. to meet with congressional delegates and USDA-ARS leadership to educate for research funding and communicate industry needs.

NCSFR researcher managing plant specimens at research station

Why This Matters

Regional Research for a Regional Industry

The Pacific Northwest is one of the most important small fruits, grapes, and speciality crops production regions in the United States. Crops like blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and wine grapes are significant to regional agriculture and rural economies. NCSFR provides the structure to identify priorities, channel funding, and communicate results — making the research system work better for everyone it serves.

Explore Research & Impact