Small Fruit Production UAPB 2015 Dr. Obediah Njue

1. The Strawberry:
Production, Impact, and Sustainability of an
Important American Crop
Prepared By: Josh Hardin
Small Fruit Production 2015
Dr. Obediah Njue

2. 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

3. 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

4. Important Pests
 Lygus Bug (Lygus
lineolaris)
 Strawberry Bud Weevil
(Anthonomous
signotus)
 Stink Bug (Euschistus
servus)

5. Strawberry Diseases
 Anthracnose – Fungus -
(Colletotrichum
acutatum)
 Gray Mold – Bacteria -
(Botrytis cinerea)
 Red stele - Fungus-
(Phytophthora
fragariae)

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Sustainable Production
 Natural fumigants are
available
 Soil steamer does better
job than chemicals
 Good crop rotation
 Natural soil
amendments
 Cover crops & Trap
Crops

10. 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

11. 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!

12. 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

13. 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.