Are strawberries good for small scale farming?
Strawberries on Matted Row. Strawberry production can be a good fit for many small scale and part-time farming operations. The high value of strawberries creates potential for significant profit from a small planting; however, management of this crop is intensive and there is the likelihood of encountering a number of production difficulties.
What’s happening to the strawberry industry?
Over the last two decades, the U.S. strawberry industry has experienced an upward trend in per person consumption, but has been down 1% from the previous year.
Why are strawberries so popular this year?
This is due to multiple reasons: consumers have more awareness towards the importance of eating a healthy diet; yield improvements have created an expanded domestic supply, and imports allow for year-round availability. In California, the marketing season for strawberries is nearly year-round.
What does a strawberry plant produce?
The strawberry plant produces leaves, flowers, and runners off of very short woody stems or crowns. Axillary buds at the base of each crown can stay dormant or differentiate into runners, flowers, or leaves, depending on the temperature and day length.
How do strawberries affect the economy?
Strawberry growing has a multiplier effect, creating jobs and generating revenue beyond the farm. For every farm dollar made, 97 cents is invested back into the community. Strawberry farming accounts for an estimated $108 million in annual tax revenue.
How do strawberries impact the environment?
Environment. Destruction: low, strawberry production is relatively sustainable, there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc.
What are the benefits of growing strawberries?
6 advantages of growing strawberries in growing mediaNo need to rotate the land. First, although this may be a bit obvious, you no longer need to rotate the land when you grow crops in growing media. … Reduced water and fertilizers. … Higher yields. … Reduced use of pesticides. … More control over the crop. … Better labor conditions.
How are strawberries grown agriculture?
Strawberries thrive in containers, raised beds and in-ground gardens, but they need enough space for their root systems to grow deep and strong. If you plant in a garden or raised bed, be sure to space the strawberries at least 18 inches apart.
Are strawberries unsustainable?
Strawberries. Despite their undisputed benefits, strawberries are among the least sustainable fruits. As EWG reported in its investigation of the impact of pesticides on fruits, commercial strawberries have among the highest levels of pesticide contamination compared to other export-ready fruits.
How do you sustainably grow strawberries?
For production of strawberries, the soil pH needs to be between 6.0 and 6.5. Usually soils with pH above 5.0 are adjustable by applying lime. Further, strawberries grow best on well-drained, sandy soils. For U-Pick operations, visibility of the field is key.
Where do strawberries grow in the world?
The United States is the world leading producer of strawberries accounting for 1,312,960 tons in 2011, followed by Turkey with 302,416 tons and Spain in third place with 262,730 tons. Other top strawberry producing countries in the world include Egypt, Mexico, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Poland, and Germany.
Where do strawberries grow best?
full sunshineWhere to Grow Strawberries. The very best-tasting fruits grow in full sunshine. Pick a sunny, sheltered site in fertile, free-draining soil that’s ideally slightly acidic. You can easily improve soil by digging in lots of organic matter before planting – compost or well-rotted manure is ideal.
Can you grow strawberries from a strawberry?
If you’re wondering can you plant a whole strawberry, give it the right soil fertilizers, and harvest fresh berries in a few months, the answer is no. You can grow strawberry plants from a single strawberry if you first dry it out and expose the pieces to a cold treatment before planting them.
How profitable is strawberry farming?
The projected yield for this year is 16,000 pounds per acre; 80 percent of the crop is sold as fresh fruit and the remaining 20 percent as processed fruit. The price for fresh market strawberries is $1.60 per pound, whereas the processed price is $0.30 per pound. The total gross income is $21,440 per acre.
Where do strawberries get globally exported to?
Export Trends of Top 10 Exporters of Fresh StrawberryCountryExport %1Global2Spain22.7%3Mexico22.14%7 more rows
How much is the strawberry industry worth?
a US$2.4 billionThe US strawberry industry is a US$2.4 billion business, with the US strawberry industry having consistent growth since 2000. Most of this growth has occurred in California.
Why are weeds important to strawberries?
Weeds compete with strawberries for essential water and nutrients. Weeds also promote pest injury by acting as alternate ‘homes’ for diseases and insects, inhibiting spray penetration, and maintaining high humidity in the strawberry leaf canopy. Good soil and air drainage are essential for plant health. Roots rot quickly in waterlogged soil, and …
What pests are in strawberries?
General Information. Strawberries are attacked by a variety of pests, including insects, mites, pathogens and weeds. While much of this publication deals with chemical controls, the best overall approach to pest management integrates chemicals with other methods. Where possible, cultural practices that may help in managing these pests are presented.
How much soil should I use to cover strawberry crowns?
To encourage increased root development, strawberry crowns are mulched with about 1 inch of loose soil during the renovation process, enough soil to cover the crown extension that has occurred during the past year without covering the top of the crowns.
When do day neutral strawberries set fruit?
Day neutral strawberries set fruit continually over several weeks, during the late summer and fall, providing a high value specially item for roadside stands and farm markets. Day neutral plants are often grown as an annual crop, on raised beds with plastic mulch and very high planting densities. As a result, the establishment costs and labor commitment tend to be quite high.
How long do strawberry roots live?
Good root development is essential to the continued productivity and health of the strawberry planting. Primary roots generally live only a year or slightly longer , requiring the development of new roots at successively higher nodes on the growing crowns.
What should I put in my strawberry garden before planting?
For good root penetration, aeration and drainage, organic materials should be added to the soil. Disc animal manures, compost, and/or green manure crops (cover crops) thoroughly into the soil before planting. The use of leguminous cover crops may increase soil nematode populations, which may be injurious to strawberries.
Why are my berries soft?
Berries may also become soft as a result of too much nitrogen.
Why are strawberries so popular?
Strawberries are from Rosaceae family and are very popular due to their desirable sweetness, juicy texture, and attractive aroma. Moreover, they are consumed in large quantities, either as fresh fruits or incorporated in the preparation of other foods, such as jams, juices, smoothies, pies, ice creams, among others.
Which country produces the most strawberries?
The United States is the world’s leading producer of strawberries producing over 36 billion pounds in 2012 and accounting for 29% of the total world production. Among the fruits consumed in the United States, strawberries ranks fifth in consumption behind bananas, apples, oranges, and grapes.
How many species of strawberries are there?
The strawberry plants comprise more than 20 species and a large number of cultivars. As previously confirmed by the recent studies ( Tulipani et al., 2008), genetic background plays a pivotal role in the determination of antioxidant, micronutrient, and phytochemical composition of strawberries.
What is the most popular berry in the world?
Strawberry is one of the most economically important berry fruits consumed for its nutrient content and pleasant flavor. Strawberry is a member of the Rosaceae family and one of the most popularly consumed berries in the world. It is commercially cultivated worldwide for its highly appreciated sweet, aromatic, and juicy fruit. The United States is the world’s leading producer of strawberries producing over 36 billion pounds in 2012 and accounting for 29% of the total world production. Among the fruits consumed in the United States, strawberries ranks fifth in consumption behind bananas, apples, oranges, and grapes. In the United States, California accounts for the highest commercial production of this berry crop, followed by Florida and Oregon. California’s 12-month growing season contributes to higher strawberry yields per acre than any other growing region. Turkey, Spain, Egypt, and Mexico are the other leading strawberry-producing countries. Most strawberries produced are consumed fresh.
Why are strawberries so attractive?
From an industrial point of view, they are very attractive because compared with other red fruits, strawberries are more profitable and are cheaper, allowing the production of large quantities of juice. From a research point of view, one of the concerns is the adulteration of other berry juices with strawberry.
When did strawberries first appear?
The commercial strawberry, Fragaria × ananassa, originated about 250 years ago when a few New World clones of Fragaria chiloensis and Fragaria virginiana accidentally hybridized in European gardens ( Wilhelm and Sagen, 1972). Thomas A. Knight began the systematic breeding of strawberries in England in 1817, but had at his disposal only a small number of native and cultivated clones.
How much does a strawberry container hold?
Strawberries are sold by volume or by weight. The volume containers hold approximately 0.25, 0.5 or 1 l. A small container would hold approximately 225 g; some of the larger containers may hold up to 3 kg. Fruit for the fresh market is generally harvested directly into the retail container.
Find Recipes with Strawberries
Recipes with Strawberries.
(link is external)
USDA. MyPlate Kitchen. SNAP Recipes.
Teach About Strawberries
Harvest of the Month: Strawberries (Educator Newsletter) (PDF, 1.8MB).
(link is external)
SNAP-Ed. California Department of Public Health. Network for a Healthy California.
What is strawberry production?
Strawberry production requires attention to cultural practices such as variety, selection, weed control, frost control, and winter protection. There are two major production systems utilized in the world. The first system is the annual hill, which uses raised plastic beds (also referred to as “strawberry plasticulture”); the second is the perennial matted row. The matted row system employs runners as the primary yield component where plants are allowed to shoot runners freely into narrow rows. The hill system relies on crowns as the primary yield component. In this system, any runners that form are removed. Perennial masted rows use short day cultivars in climates with short summers and cold winters. The annual hill system is primarily used in areas having mild winters and either hot or moderate summers.
How many strawberries were harvested in 2014?
During the 2014 crop year, 207 million pounds of strawberries valued at $306.5 million were produced on 10,900 acres. Florida strawberries are harvested by hand every three days during harvest season. Generally, there is one picker per acre who picks for four hours during off-peak parts of the production season.
What is the California Strawberry Commission?
In 2005, the California Strawberry Commission published food safety recommendations specific for strawberry growers based on good agricultural practices (GAPs). This report recommends that producers avoid field contamination by not picking strawberries in areas with obvious fecal contamination.
How many varieties of strawberries are there in the US?
They are the most widely grown fruit crop. Today, there are over 100 varieties of strawberries. Americans consume about eight pounds of strawberries every year; approximately 75% of that amount is fresh strawberries and the remainder is frozen. 94% of U.S. households consume strawberries.
What is the genus of strawberries?
The cultivated strawberry belongs to the genus Fragaria in the Rosaceae family and is a hybrid of two native species, F. chiloensis and F. virginiana. Commercial strawberries are grown in a broad range of climates including temperate, grassland, Mediterranean, taiga, and subtropical.
How to grow strawberry plants?
Good irrigation plays an important role in growing and maintaining healthy strawberry plants by allowing for optimal plant growth and crop production. Determining the proper amount of irrigation is necessary because both excessive and minimal watering of plants can cause problems. Excessive irrigation can lead to nutrient deficiencies in the root zone because it can cause leaching of sulfur, boron, and nitrogen. In addition, over-watering can lead to either slower root growth or the rotting of the roots altogether. On the other hand, inadequate watering can lead to reduced strawberry size, decreased yield, and diminished fruit quality. The recommended ways for irrigating this crop are limited. Ideal methods include overhead irrigation, sprinklers, or drip lines. Overhead or sprinkler irrigation can also serve other purposes, such as frost protection in areas where frost is an issue or as a way to provide cooling to the crop in hotter weather. Irrigation can also be used to apply fertilizers and pesticides to the crop. Methods such as flood or furrow irrigation should be avoided.
Which states produce the most strawberries?
The susceptibility of strawberries to foodborne illness highlights the importance of following recommended food safety practices from the farm to the table. The United States is the world’s largest producer of strawberries. The top three strawberry-producing states are California, Florida, and Oregon.
Where are strawberries grown?
Strawberries are produced throughout the state of North Carolina. The majority of the strawberries produced in North Carolina are grown in an annual hill plasticulture system and a minority of the crop is grown using the matted row system.
How many acres of strawberries are there in North Carolina?
Strawberries. North Carolina ranks third or fourth in national production of fresh market strawberries with an estimated 1,700 to 2,000 acres and a farm gate value of 16 to 20 million dollars.
What are the problems with strawberry farms?
Birds can be a serious problem on many strawberry farms. Netting, chemical repellents, scare tactics, and noise devices may be required to protect the crop. Deer also can cause extensive damage to the plants by trampling and eating the plants and ripening berries.
Which state produces the most strawberries?
The top fresh-market-strawberry-producing states are California and Florida by far, with North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania also in the top five states. The United States ranks first in the world for strawberry production, followed by China and Spain.
What are some alternatives to strawberry growers?
Other marketing alternatives available to the strawberry grower include other types of wholesale markets such as auctions, cooperatives, and processing firms. In wholesale marketing, either you or a shipper can take your crop to the market. Shippers generally sell and transport strawberries for a predetermined price.
How to grow day neutral strawberries?
Runners are removed throughout the first season and flowers should be removed for the first 6 weeks after planting. Mulching day-neutral plants with 4 inches of clean straw is essential since mulch prevents large fluctuations in moisture availability and temperature.
How much does a strawberry cost in Pennsylvania?
Prices in Pennsylvania range from $1.00 to nearly $4.00 per pound for pick-your-own strawberries, and from $3.00 to $8.00 per quart for picked strawberries. An open-top quart of strawberries averages about 1.4 pounds, but the weight varies with cultivar and berry size.
What is a matted row strawberry?
The original mother plants are planted on a relatively wide spacing. This is a relatively low-cost system for producing strawberries. Matted-row production was the standard strawberry production system in the region for many years, and it is still the system used for most of the strawberry acreage.
How deep do strawberry plants grow?
The strawberry plant has an extremely shallow root system, with roots extending only about 6 inches deep in clay loam soils. Because of this shallow root system, and because flower blossoms can be killed by spring frosts, irrigation is either strongly recommended or a necessity, depending on the production system.
Introduction
Marketing Channels
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In California, the marketing season for strawberries is nearly year-round. For all other states the marketing season is between March and November, depending on the variety grown (CUESA, n.d.). A way to add value to fresh strawberries could be starting a U-pick operation. On a U-pick farm, customers harvest the produce themselves. This can allow the farm to save on labor cost…
Management
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There are three types of strawberries: day-neutral, everbearing, and June bearing (each having many varieties). All strawberry plants produce runners (vegetative part of the plant that is capable of producing a new identical plant), however, some types grow more than others. Runners can be both beneficial and costly to an operation (Iowa State University – Extension). Day-neutral strawb…
Financial
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Helpful enterprise budgets for strawberries: 1. Cost and Return Studies for Strawberries, University of California – Davis. 2. Kentucky Strawberry Profitability Estimated Costs and Returns for Wholesale/Retail production and Pick Your Own (PYO),University of Kentucky. 3. Sample Strawberry Budgets for Plasticulture production and Matted Row production, Pennsylvania Stat…
Sources
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Market Report Generator, Iowa State University Extension. About Strawberries, California Strawberry Commission. A Farmers Guide to a Pick-Your-Own Operation,University of Tennessee- Extension. Fruit and Vegetable Marketing for Small-Scale and Part-Time Growers, Pennsylvania State University – Extension. Geisseler, D., and Horwath, W.R., Strawberry Production in Californi…
Marketing and Production
- North American Strawberry Growers Association– This grower-based association supports ongoing research and educational activities.
- Pickyourown.org. – This website provides local listings of pick-your-own farms in the U.S. and other countries, as well as crop calendars for each local area.
- Strawberries: What Makes Direct-Market Strawberry Farms Successful?– This document dis…
- North American Strawberry Growers Association– This grower-based association supports ongoing research and educational activities.
- Pickyourown.org. – This website provides local listings of pick-your-own farms in the U.S. and other countries, as well as crop calendars for each local area.
- Strawberries: What Makes Direct-Market Strawberry Farms Successful?– This document discusses the components of the strawberry market.
Key Facts
Introduction
Foodborne Outbreaks and Recalls
Production
Food Safety
Consumption
Nutrition
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Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamins and other essential nutrients. One cup of fresh strawberries has about 50 calories and contains 160% of the RDA of vitamin C. Strawberries are also a good source of potassium, manganese, folic acid, and fiber. Because they are now available in fresh form all year long, strawberries have become one th…