The Strawberry:Production, Impact, and Sustainability of an

Important American Crop

Prepared By: Josh Hardin

Small Fruit Production 2015

Dr. Obediah Njue

History of Production

First bred in Brittany,

France in 1740

Small scale and mid

size u-pick farms

Families harvested and

preserved fruit for year

ahead

Cultivated as perennials

in matted rows

Fresh Market Strawberry Facts

2.28 Million lbs

Harvested In U.S. In

2009

861 Thousand lbs in

1989

Avg price $.87 lb 2009

Avg in 1989 $.54

5 Million lbs produced

in world in 2009

Important Pests

Lygus Bug (Lygus

lineolaris)

Strawberry Bud Weevil

(Anthonomous

signotus)

Stink Bug (Euschistus

servus)

Strawberry Diseases

Anthracnose – Fungus -

(Colletotrichum

acutatum)

Gray Mold – Bacteria -

(Botrytis cinerea)

Red stele - Fungus-

(Phytophthora

fragariae)

Conventional Production

Majority of production

in Southeast and

Coastal California

Heavy dependence on

chemicals and machines

for production

Millions of tons of

plastic put into landfills

and burned

Methyl Bromide Soil fumigant to prevent

fungal and bacterial

diseases

Outlawed in all countries

under Clean Air Act

Symptoms include

respiratory failure,

difficulty breathing,

tissue damage, and loss of

senses

Permitted under

Emergency use

Frost Protection

Initially, water was

mainly used for freeze

protection

Row covers have

become more popular

and more effective

Hoophouse production

offers berries longer and

needs less chemicals to

produce

Sustainable Production

Natural fumigants are

available

Soil steamer does better

job than chemicals

Good crop rotation

Natural soil

amendments

Cover crops & Trap

Crops

Cover Crops

Summer Cover-

Sorghum Sudan, Rye

Grass, Buckwheat

Build organic matter,

provide plant ready

nitrogen, weed

competition

Winter Cover- Clover,

wheat, oats, winter peas

Protect soil, spring

nitrogen source

U of A Strawberry Sustainability

Initiative• Funded to find productive

strawberry systems for Southern growers

• Laughing Stock Farm uses 3 gal recycled grow bags, compost, coco peat croutons, and only certified organic fertilizer, pesticides, and fungicides.

• Grown in high tunnels with heat and row covers

• First fruit this week!

Conclusion

It is possible to meet

consumer demand &

respect the environment

Consumers must

demand locally grown

berries from innovative

farmers

Strawberries & other

fruits can be expensive

crops if producers dont

address insects &

diseases sustainably

References

Hayley, Boriss. Brunke. Kreith. (2008) Agricultural Market Resource Center.University of California.

Commodity Strawberries. Accessed November 21, 2011

Mizell RF. (2005). Stink bugs and leaffooted bugs are important fruit, nut, seed and vegetable pests. EDIS.

UF/IFAS. ENY-718. (7 May 2008)

Averre, Charles W. Jones.(2011) Milholland. Strawberry Diseases & Their Control. . Accessed November 21,

2011.

Environmental Protection Agency. (2009) The Phaseout of Methyl Bromide.Accessed November 14, 2011.

Santos, Rufino D. (2008) Indigenous Migrant Workers Struggle Against Pesticides. . Accessed November 21,

2011.

Guerena, Martin. Born. Strawberries: Organic Production. NCAT. (2007) . Accessed November 21, 2011.