By Carla Espinoza GutiérrezOregon's blackberry industry is making the most of a favorable growing season and a unique summer market opportunity. Thornless blackberries take the spotlightWhile Oregon remains traditionally a processing state, some growers are slowly exploring fresh-market production. And so producers are finding that that fits that gap in order to produce fresh for the retail market," Kochis explained regarding the focus shift. That is the number one component that they're breeding for and that these fresh market blackberries you're going to get are going to have," she said. Growing for the futureWhile favorable temperatures benefited this year's crop, growers face rising production costs and increasing weather uncertainty.