“Enhancing Native Wild Huckleberry Stands for More Berries & Economic Opportunity”
Friday, July 29, 2005
Elk River, Idaho
I. Welcome – John Greenwell, Mayor of Elk River
Introduction – Chris Kuykendall, Clearwater County Economic Development
II. “Markets and Opportunities for Wild Huckleberries,” Jim Freed, Professor, Special Forest Products, WSU Extension
a. Know your market
b. Direct Marketing: Must be a “salesman,” Must be comfortable meeting with others
c. Need to be able to provide adequate supply of product
d. Product “value-added”: Has been cleaned, cooled, sorted, packaged
e. Various types of product markets
i. “Field Run” Pick and sell by the pound to a buyer (lowest price/pay). Selling the “commodity.”
f. Fastest growing product markets are the “Organic” systems – grown, processed, etc.
i. Fairly easy to obtain organic certification (including public lands which are seldom fertilized, sprayed, etc.)
ii. Organic “wildcrafted” certification
1. No pesticides
2. No human sewage sludge used
3. Prove sustainability
NOTE: State Department of Agriculture performs certification. “Natural, Fresh, Wild, Organic” terms used sell 3-5 times cost of normal grocery store.
iii. One of the most important things that the Western Huckleberry & Bilberry Association (WHBA) can do is work on harvest & storage methods to insure product freshness. Cooling to 42 – 48 degrees F will insure freshness; i.e., cool, fresh-picked berries in the field ASAP.
1. Example: A family uses a pick-up truck with insulated compartments, with racks and AC powered window air conditioner
iv. Most successful education/marketing schemes involve showing natural harvesting, in the wild/woods, shared with animals, etc. Have a video presentation along with “testimonials” from public land manager, etc. This demonstrates that your product is coming from a sustainable system.
v. Ideas for value-added:
1. “Guesting” and Bed & Breakfast wildcrafting experience mushrooms, berries, etc.
2. “Lifestyle forestry,” “Forest Gardening”
3. Important to create a “sense of place” for your products
4. Are Native American people nearby? If so, partnering with native peoples can have many positive benefits. “Tribal Seal of Approval” is a powerful marketing tool (especially for overseas customers)
5. Medicinal market for huckleberry
a. Skins of vaccinium family contain the highest concentrations of essential oils, anti-oxidants
b. Eyesight improvement (night blindness, macular degeneration, etc.)
c. Freeze-dried huckleberries
III. “Creating a Successful Direct Marketing Strategy,” Cinda Williams, Sustainable Agriculture Coordinator, University of Idaho
a. Lots of growers, but what is best way to market the products produced?
b. Refer to PowerPoint Presentation handout
Also, Sustainable Agriculture Resource Education Program, http://www.sare.org
c. Whatever strategy you choose - you will need to research your product and your target market. Set goals and a develop a plan for marketing
d. Discussion Topics:
i. Farmers Markets, U-Pick, Farm Stands, Agritourism
ii. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
iii. Cooperative Marketing
iv. Marketing Strategy, refer to handouts:
1. “Farm and Ranch Resource Assessment Worksheets”
2. “Farm and Ranch Marketing Plan Assessments Worksheets”
Closing Point: “You have to LOVE what you do and do what you love”
IV. “Huckleberry Buyer Survey” handout, Malcolm Dell
a. Summary of discussions with brokers, processors, restaurants/caterers, retail stores
V. “Opportunities in Value-Added Huckleberry Gourmet Foods,” Malcolm Dell, Idaho Redneck Gourmet Gifts
a. Refer to handout “Developing Value-Added Gourmet Foods from Wild Berries and Other Local Resources”
b. Three major markets for specialty foods:
i. Grocery (high-volume, low-margin)
ii. Food Service
iii. Gift (high margin, low volume)
c. Summary:
i. Product Quality – gets repeat customers
ii. Packaging – attracts various buyers
VI. “Cultural Practices for Improving Yields in Wild Huckleberry Stands,” Dr. Dan Barney, Horticulturalist, University of Idaho – Sandpoint
a. Refer to handout “Huckleberries and Bilberries: Management Strategies for Western Foresters”
b. Huckleberry=Bilberry=Whortleberry
c. Discussion Topics:
i. Factors to Consider, Various Huckleberry Species, Management Strategies, Competing Vegetation, Fertilization, Irrigation, Regeneration from Seeds, Transplanting Huckleberries
ii. Nutrients
iii. Soil – needs to by well drained, loamy, 5.0 pH level is ideal (4.6 – 6.5 range)
Field Tour: Observed huckleberry colonies at two different sites in the Elk Creek Falls area. Dr. Barney discussed various management practices that could be implemented for improvement (mainly forest canopy thinning). Also, he demonstrated the use of a commercially available rake for harvesting huckleberries – pros & cons.
VII. “Opportunities & Challenges for Management & Harvesting of Wild Huckleberries through Leases and Contracts with Owners of the Huckleberry Resource,” Landowner Panel discussion
a. Operational Issues - Shayne Watkins, Potlatch Corporation
i. Use of pesticides/herbicides (limited – for timber production – environmentally safe)
ii. Access – road restrictions; Signage to protect water quality & prevent damage to road surfaces
iii. No problem with public harvesting huckleberry patches for personal use
b. Legal Access – Bill Davis, Potlatch Corporation
i. Potlatch Corp. meets SFI, ISO Certification Standards – places some fairly strict restrictions on lands
ii. Potlatch owned lands are generally open to vehicles < 48” wide
iii. Looking at various lease programs including outfitters
iv. Have hired private security contractors to help enforce company rules and conduct public use surveys
v. Bill does not foresee (in the near future) entering into leases for specific (huckleberry) uses – do not have the personnel to track; Only on some exclusive areas (hunting leases, etc.)
vi. Anyone expecting to conduct commercial activities (camping, etc.) will be expected to pay a fee
1. Need a firewood permit for personal use (regardless if private industry, Forest Service, etc.)
2. No permit/fee for personal use berry picking; Liability protection for Potlatch Corp. exists as long as no fee charged & no commercial operations exist
c. Nolan Noren, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL)
i. State has no written policy on harvesting/managing huckleberries (Personal use permit is required for firewood)
ii. Nolan believes there should be similar policy among land management agencies
iii. Road maintenance/closure policies are enforced. ATV’s generally allowed on all IDL roads/trails.
iv. Potential obstacles:
1. IDL mandate is to maximize return
a. Timber is primary use; IDL may provide a commercial permit for huckleberry management, but timber/mining/cattle activity would take precedence
2. Logistics of “how to identify location of harvestable huckleberries.” Could do that, but no guarantee that other uses (above) wouldn’t be implemented. Private individual can post the specific use, but IDL cannot be expected to enforce these uses.
3. Opinion of IDL Operations Chief: IDL lands mandated to make money; will not enter into agreements that would hinder IDL’s ability to generate income.
4. Logistical process: Similar to any other written lease, need estimate of potential income expected
a. Commercial use permits
b. Multi-year lease agreements
5. The state is not in position to restrict general public access
d. Larry Ross, USDA Forest Service
i. Forest Service operates under Multiple-Use Sustained Yield Act “All resources treated equally.” Mandates a “balancing act” that other landowners may not have to abide with.
ii. Commercial huckleberry picking: $4/day or $80 for entire season ($20 minimum)
NOTE: To date, no commercial huckleberry permits have been issued on the Clearwater National Forest.
e. Ray Geidl, Private Landowner
i. Not interested in intensively managing own stand of huckleberries (livestock/timber main use)
ii. Would be very interested in leasing land at a reasonable rate to interested parties who would be interested in focusing on huckleberry management with emphasis to promote agricultural progress and for possible economic positives for Clearwater County in the future.
iii. Would visit with local Sheriff’s office to make sure an illegal grow operation was not an outcome.
iv. Would visit with local attorney’s office to draft a legal agreement with the main concerns in any agreement being: use of roads, spray areas and non-spray zones, non-use of areas in wet seasons, good soil and water conservation practices.
