Day-neutral strawberries (DNS) flower and fruit continuously throughout the growing season, and have the potential to extend the strawberry harvest season, increase total yields, and provide growers with a steady supply of berries during less competitive times of the year. Spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), a species of fruit fly, is one of the major insect pests threatening organic strawberry production. This study, conducted over two years in St. Paul, MN, evaluated the effects of several spotted-wing drosophila management tactics on organic day-neutral strawberry production.

Conventional strawberry nurseries have used fumigated soils for decades, employing methyl bromide, chloropicrin, Telone, and other highly toxic synthetic chemicals. […]

Join Dr. Joji Muramoto and Carol Shennan from the University of California, Santa Cruz, for a discussion on the findings from a four-year study assessing organic strawberry/vegetable crop rotations. The study compared 2- and 4-year rotations with either broccoli or lettuce grown between strawberry crops. Data on yields, disease incidence, soil nitrogen dynamics and preliminary economic analysis will be presented.

This factsheet, produced by Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners (MOFGA), provides in-depth guidance on growing June-bearing strawberries organically, focusing on soil preparation, site selection, and the perennial matted row system. It explains the importance of building biologically active soil, crop rotation, and cultural practices for weed, insect, and disease management, plus considerations for frost protection and labor needs in organic systems.

Central Coast California strawberry growers have observed that western tarnished plant bug (WTPB) populations establish in their fields mid-season, influenced […]

The continued expansion of organic strawberry and vegetable production in California faces two key challenges: managing soil-borne diseases without synthetic […]

This publication, produced by the University of Florida, provides an overview of the strawberry seed bug as an emerging pest in organic strawberry production, describing its identification, life cycle, and the environmental conditions that favor population growth. It also outlines monitoring techniques and organic-compatible management strategies to help growers effectively manage infestations.

Methods to conserve and augment beneficial insects in modern horticultural production systems are needed given issues with pest resistance to […]

Join Marvin Pritts, from Cornell University, for a webinar exploring organic strawberry production in the Great Plains. Learn about organic pest and disease control strategies, variety selection, soil health and fertility management, and practical techniques for mitigating regional growing challenges.

Join Arianna Bozzolo, Research Director at the Rodale Institute California Organic Center, for a webinar in which she discusses the findings from a multi-year study on the use of diverse cover crop species for weed suppression in organic strawberry and artichoke production systems.

This award continues OFRF support for a breeding effort to develop strawberry varieties that produce fruit over a 4-5 month […]

Soilborne pathogens and root-feeding nematodes can severely limit yields in organic specialty crops. Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD), which saturates soil with water and induces an oxygen-free environment prior to seeding is a natural pest/disease control method that can suppress soilborne pathogens. This study analyzed the efficacy of ASD in managing key soilborne pathogens in organic vegetable and strawberry production systems.

Organic strawberry production in coastal California faces challenges from soil-borne diseases and high weed management costs. Verticillium wilt, caused by […]

This study investigated nutrient levels in organically grown strawberries, addressing a gap in research as tissue analysis is common for […]

This publication provides an overview of organic strawberry production methods. It also covers integrated pest management (IPM) and weed-control techniques that can reduce pesticide use in strawberry production. It includes discussions of weeds, pests, diseases, greenhouse production, plasticulture, fertility, economics, and marketing.

Field experiments were conducted at the Cal Poly Organic Farm in San Luis Obispo, California, to examine the effects of […]

This resource reviews anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) techniques for managing soil-borne pathogens, with a focus on strawberry production in California, discussing efficacy, disease suppression mechanisms, and practical insights from growers' experiences.

Explore nitrogen management challenges in organic strawberry cultivation. Learn about nitrogen uptake patterns, synchronizing nutrient supply, pre-plant amendments, leaching losses, and improving fertigation efficiency for better crop outcomes.

Day-neutral cultivars enable the production of strawberries during times when they are typically unavailable locally in the Pacific Northwest. For […]

This research project sought evidence that a selective, imported biological control agent can persist in alfalfa trap crops that are […]