SANTA MARIA, CA - Key advancements in strawberry production were recently uncovered as the California Strawberry Commission (CSC) hosted its Production Research meeting in Santa Maria early this month. As more than 80 industry members gathered at the event, the organization dove into a broad range of topics such as strawberry disease diagnostics, disease-resistant cultivars, integrated pest management, weed science, and production automation.

“Through partnerships with the Cal Poly Strawberry Center and the University of California, Davis, the CSC's research and automation program is putting industry assessment dollars to work to generate knowledge and create solutions and products the industry needs to address both short- and long-term issues,” said Bill Turechek, Vice President of Research, CSC. "We're striving to provide resources to manage soilborne diseases, continuing to innovate in the area of integrated pest management and water conservation, and bring new disease- and insect-resistant cultivars to our growers to assure an economically and environmentally sustainable California strawberry industry.”

According to a press release, Turechek welcomed growers, pest control advisors (PCAs), industry representatives, and agricultural researchers with an update on the current state of the California strawberry industry—which produces 90 percent of strawberries grown in the United States.

Nearly 220 million trays were harvested in 2023, making strawberries the fourth most valuable California crop, the release explained.

In addition to regulatory updates from the Santa Barbara County Agricultural Commissioner, Jose Chang, the meeting also addressed:

• An update on strawberry disease diagnostics from the Cal Poly Strawberry Center 
  Strategies to optimize irrigation management
• Progress toward the development of disease-resistant cultivars from the University of California, Davis (UC Davis)
• Background and strategies for combating pests like Lygus and Spotted Wing Drosophila
• Industry automation program updates, including the strawberry decapper, lygus bug vac, UVC application for powdery mildew and two-spotted spider mite management, and the hoop house arch remover

Turechek also shared updates on the current research underway in pathology and entomology and the top research priorities for 2025.

ANUK will continue to showcase the industry’s progress in farming and innovation, so stay tuned.