University of Alaska Fairbanks

07/14/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/14/2026 16:38

Berry workshops planned in Bethel, Aniak

Berry workshops planned in Bethel, Aniak

Photo by Heidi Rader
A heavily laden blueberry bush, which has been pruned to encourage berry production, grows in Heidi Rader's yard in this 2020 photo. Rader will discuss ways to improve berry production, such as pruning, during a series of workshops in August.



July 13, 2026

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Tribes Extension program and the Rural Alaska Community Action Program are sponsoring berry-related workshops in Bethel and Aniak in early August.

Led by Tribes Extension educator Heidi Rader and Chugiak berry grower Josh Smith, the workshops will be held in Bethel on Sunday, Aug. 2, and in Aniak on Aug. 3-4.

Rader will lead off the workshops on Aug. 2 at 4 p.m. at Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center, 420 Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway, Bethel, with a presentation on growing and managing berries. At 5 p.m., Smith will discuss propagating berries and growing native berries such as nagoonberries, cloudberries, high-bush cranberries and blueberries.

In Aniak, workshops will run from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and include classes for youths on identifying and tasting berries and making jam at Aniak Community Hall, 1 Community Hall Road. Participants will also plant a small berry patch and discuss ways of establishing a plant nursery. Smith will lead a workshop focused on propagating native berries.

Workshops on Thursday, Aug. 4, also run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. They will lead with a class for youths on basic botany, nature journaling and wild and edible plants, including a botany scavenger hunt. Youths will learn to plant a berry plant and Rader will lead a class on pruning and caring for berries. Smith will also lead a berry propagation workshop.

All youths must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The workshops are free. Registration is requested at https://bit.ly/AllAboutBerries to ensure there will be enough supplies on hand.

For more information, contact Rader at [email protected] or 907-474-6620.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made five business days in advance to Alda Norris at [email protected] or 907-474-7120. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to individuals with limited English proficiency upon request to [email protected].

This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

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University of Alaska Fairbanks published this content on July 14, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 14, 2026 at 22:38 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]