US: New varieties help Florida strawberry growers

Following hurricanes Helene and Milton, Florida growers are showing resilience in ensuring fresh Florida strawberries are available this season. Through hard work and efficient problem-solving, Florida growers have planted the fruits consumers enjoy from December through April. Kenneth Parker, executive director of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association, works regularly with University of Florida breeders, Extension agents and growers to help communicate the needs of the Florida strawberry industry. Growers are doing their best to ensure Florida strawberries are available for the holidays. “As a general rule of thumb, Florida growers aim to complete planting each year around the first of November,” Parker said in a news release. “For the most part, the industry has held to this standard through the hard work, dedication and perseverance of both our growers and farmworkers.” Following the storms, some areas required more effort to get the fields back in working order to ...