A new publication providing updates on key issues for soft-fruit growers has been produced by the Horticultural Development Company (HDC).

The 2010-11 edition of the HDC’s soft-fruit review includes an update on efforts to find new ways of controlling pests and disease, as well as methods of reducing the risk of pesticide residues.

There is information on research into verticillium wilt control, strawberry crown and soft rots, as well as details on various new biological controls.

The publication, the first edition of which came out last year, is aimed at showing levy payers what their cash is being used on from a research and development perspective. “We were delighted with the response to our first soft fruit review and believed that it helped growers to view the full portfolio of HDC research on soft fruit in one publication.”