CAL POLY STRAWBERRY CENTER PRESENTS NEW STRAWBERRY FARMING RESEARCH AND INNOVATION EFFORTS
Hundreds of strawberry growers, researchers and agricultural stakeholders from California will gather Thursday, Aug. 8 from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the Cal Poly Strawberry Center Field Day, the largest research and education event for the California strawberry industry. The event will showcase the latest in strawberry innovation and provide attendees with resources to better combat challenges faced by strawberry growers while introducing new technologies.
The Strawberry Center was formed 10 years ago as a partnership between the California Strawberry Commission and Cal Poly aimed at increasing the sustainability of California’s $3 billion strawberry industry through research and education.
To further its research efforts, the Cal Poly Strawberry Center, in collaboration with the California Strawberry Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service in Salinas, California, was recently awarded $1.25 million in federal funding in continued support of its strawberry production automation research and its efforts in fostering a workforce pipeline to support sustainable food production needed to meet the demands of a growing population.
“The annual Strawberry Center Field Day is a way to showcase the research and innovations our students and staff are working on,” said Gerald Holmes, director of the Cal Poly Strawberry Center. “Each of these projects will benefit the strawberry industry indefinitely.”
The Strawberry Center Field Day spotlights the latest research findings in automation, entomology and plant pathology. Highlighted projects include:
- Non-chemical pest management solutions involving an optimized bug vacuum and use of UV-C light.
- Mechanical Ag plastic removal and recycling
- Automations to improve workplace efficiency and safety like the hoop house arch remover, decapper and cross hole puncher/burner.
- Solutions for controlling and mitigating soilborne pathogens including the use of cover crops, plant breeding and salts & moisture manipulation.
- New information on the management of Lygus and spider mites.
Increased focus on automation technologies will help improve strawberry production and lead to a higher-quality product, supplying a steady stream of healthy produce. The introduction of advanced technologies, including automation capabilities, are critical to the long-term competitiveness for domestic production of strawberries and other specialty crops within the international agricultural marketplace.
“Celebrating a decade of commitment to research and education is not just a milestone, but a testament to the strength of the strawberry industry and its vision to succeed with dedication and innovation,” said Rick Tomlinson, president, California Strawberry Commission. “The work showcased at the Strawberry Field Day is crucial to advancing strawberry farming and environmental stewardship, and we look forward to what’s next.”
California’s strawberry farmers are among the most progressive and environmentally conscious growers in the state and the world. They continue to lead, evolve and implement the most sustainable farming practices and ways to grow strawberries, which includes the research and innovations coming from the Strawberry Center.
Strawberries are California’s third highest-grossing crop, bringing in $2.68 billion in 2022. There are more than 400 growers, shippers and processors that grow 90% of U.S.-grown strawberries, many on multi-generational family-owned farms.
Registration for the event is now open for strawberry industry members. More details about the Strawberry Center Field Day can be found here.
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About California Strawberry Commission
The California Strawberry Commission is more than 300 strawberry farmers, shippers, and processors, all working together to advance strawberry farming for the future of our land and people. Commission programs create opportunities for success through groundbreaking programs focused on workforce training, strawberry production research, and nutrition research. Through science-based information and education, it delivers the good news about sustainable farming practices that benefit the health of people, farms, and communities.
About Cal Poly Strawberry Center
The Cal Poly Strawberry Center was established in 2014 within the Cal Poly College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences as a partnership between Cal Poly and the California Strawberry Commission. This one-of-a-kind center is rooted in the hands-on learning approach that defines Cal Poly. The center focuses on applied research incorporating teaching and learning experiences for Cal Poly undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and California strawberry farmers. For more information, please visit www.strawberry.calpoly.edu.