Florida’s late fall and winter don’t just bring cooler, less humid weather. The seasons bring the sweet burst of locally grown strawberries. Juicy, vibrant and fresh from the fields, these Sunshine State gems are waiting for you at your favorite market.
Farmers in Hillsborough, Manatee and Polk counties are growing and harvesting Florida strawberries on about 16,000 acres from December until the end of March – about a $500 million a year statewide industry.
Growers planted from about Sept. 25 to Oct. 20, said Vance Whitaker, a strawberry breeder at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Fruit is now starting to be harvested, and there should be plenty on the market.
About 88% of strawberry varieties grown in Florida were developed by UF/IFAS scientists.
Just last season, Ember™ and Encore™, both varieties from Whitaker’s lab, were commercialized. That year, Ember™ (8%) and Encore™ (5%) accounted for about 13% of the acreage planted.
This year, Ember™ (35%) and Encore™ (18%) acreage has increased about 400% — comprising about 53% of the farmland on which strawberries are grown, said Whitaker, a professor of horticultural sciences at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center and strawberry breeder.
“They (Ember™ and Encore™) have robust plants, which help produce high early yields in November and December and excellent overall flavor and shelf life,” Whitaker said. “They also have better overall disease resistance than previous varieties, making them more sustainable to grow for our farmers.”
‘Florida Brilliance’ is the next more popular variety for farmers, growing on about 27% of acreage.
The UF/IFAS strawberry breeding program has been around since 1948 and has produced dozens of cultivars. Those varieties are grown on all continents, except Antarctica.
That success means Whitaker brings farmers and consumers what they want.
“The appearance of the fruit on the grocery store display is key, particular a vibrant red color and uniform shape,” he said. “However, the eating experience is the most important. Good texture and a sweet but slightly tangy flavor are extremely important.”
About five years ago, Whitaker developed a novel strawberry, called the ‘Pineberry.’
It’s mostly white, rather than the usual red, and smells a little like a pineapple. Pineberry grows on about 325 acres, an amount has been steady for a couple of seasons.
“The pineberries will be present once again this winter in stores carrying Florida strawberries,” he said. “But they are still a niche product, as many people are still not familiar with them.”
Although the fruits are not marketed by cultivar names, you can always look for strawberries grown in Florida or ask the produce manager.
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ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
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