By Clint Thompson Florida strawberry production is as challenging as it has ever been. Dustin Grooms, with Fancy Farms in Plant City, Florida, outlined the obstacles that producers are faced with, as another planting season looms. “We had a hard time selling fruit there last year, so that’s going to be a problem. The chilli thrips, we don’t have a …
California Floods Affect Florida’s Strawberry Production
By Clint Thompson The current weather crisis in California is impacting Florida’s strawberry harvests. One producer said he is picking additional fruit this time of year amid the floods out west. “I go until April normally with some of them, but we’re going a little longer than normal because California is in disarray with all the weather they’ve been getting. …
Challenges of Florida Strawberry Production
By Clint Thompson Strawberry production in Florida is not for the faint of heart. So many challenges exist that growers must overcome to remain sustainable. Just ask Florida farmer Dustin Grooms. “If you’ve got a berry field, you’ve got a problem,” Grooms said. Grooms and other farmers are in the middle of another strawberry season. Production has increased some this …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Florida Strawberry Grower Seeing Success With Blackberries
By Clint Thompson Florida farmer Matt Parke is still new to the state’s blackberry industry. But that hasn’t stopped him from achieving significant production improvement from year one to year two. Another boost in production could lead Parke to potentially increase acreage in a couple of years. “Once I get through this year and see how it goes and try …
UGA Extension Strawberry Blog: Management Options for Neopestalotiopsis
Neopestalotiopsis fruit rot and leaf spot disease is already expected to impact next year’s strawberry crop. The question is how can growers minimize the potential damage the disease will likely have on plants ahead of next growing season? Phil Brannen, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist, outlined how producers can navigate next season’s expected increase of Neopestalotiopsis. …
Strawberry Plant Shortage? Neopestalotiopsis Wreaking Havoc on Supply
By Clint Thompson The recent revelation that Neopestalotiopsis impacted multiple nurseries from Prince Edward Island will affect the supply of strawberry tips and plug plants that are available for Southeast growers. Producers are likely to experience a shortage as well as a spike in costs per plants that are available, says Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and …
Attention Strawberry Growers: ‘Alarm Bells’ for Neopestalotiopsis Disease
By Clint Thompson A disease that first impacted Florida strawberry fields in the 2018-2019 season is already causing trouble for next year’s crop. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension fruit disease specialist, is cautioning growers about the high potential risk for Neopestalotiopsis with plants originating from Prince Edward Island. “As many strawberry producers are aware, some nurseries are …
Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Blackberry Success for Central Florida Producer
Florida specialty crop farmer Matt Parke may still be a relative newbie when it comes to blackberry production. But he seems to have figured out a secret to blackberry success in Central Florida. “Here in Central Florida, we don’t get the chill hours required to make them flower good, so you’ve got to figure out how to trick them into …
Florida Strawberry Acreage Increased in 2023
By Clint Thompson Florida’s strawberry acres increased in 2023 and so did subsequent production. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, Florida’s acreage totaled 14,200, an increase from 12,800 in 2022 and 12,300 in 2021. Total production reached 2.9 million cwt in 2023, compared to 2.8 million cwt in 2022 and 2.83 million cwt in 2021. …
Blackberry Success for Central Florida Producer
Florida specialty crop farmer Matt Parke may still be a relative newbie when it comes to blackberry production. But he seems to have figured out a secret to blackberry success in central Florida. “Here in central Florida we don’t get the chill hours required to make them flower good, so you’ve got to figure out how to trick them into …