Remembering Oregon’s ‘Berry Goddess,’ Bernadine Strik

An icon in Oregon’s agriculture industry has died. For 34 years, Bernadine Strik did groundbreaking work in the field of horticulture, as both a professor in the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University and as the lead horticulturist for a one-of-a-kind cooperative berry breeding program.

When interviewed last fall, Strik said working with berries was her dream job.

“I got to have a job where I did research, extension, working with the growers, and teaching undergrads and grads in all berry crops that are important to Oregon. So, a dream job for me.”

The 100-year-old berry breeding program is a collaboration between OSU and the USDA Agricultural Research Service. During her three and a half decades with the program, Strik co-released 38 different berry cultivars and revolutionized how some crops are grown today.

Her passion also earned her a unique moniker.

“At one of the dean’s dinners about five years before I retired, the Dean of the College of Ag Sciences at OSU introduced me as the Berry Goddess,” said Strik. “And I thought, ‘Man, if you have a nickname, that’s a good one!’”