Strawberries: Nutritious, delicious and a big state crop

Strawberries – luscious, beautiful and fragrant – figure in spring and summer traditions around the world. At UC Davis, the Strawberry Breeding Program is an important source for varieties that meet the needs of growers with different weather and soils, grown amid changing conditions of climate, water and market.

Since the 1920s, researchers in the program have been looking for traits and patterns that can lead to varieties which are yummier to eat and easier to grow, pack and ship. Our scientists have found ways to improve strawberry plants’ productivity, resistance to disease and fruit quality, releasing 12 commercial varieties in the past nine years. The program is an important contributor to California’s strawberry industry: Strawberries rank No. 6 amid the state’s most valuable crops, with a market value of $2.7 billion in 2022, according to the state Department of Food and Agriculture. Strawberries ranked No. 3 for all fruit produced in the United States in 2020, with California producing nearly 90 percent of that. International exports are growing, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

During the campus' annual Picnic Day celebration, visitors have an opportunity to take home a baby strawberry plant and see for themselves the beauty of this important crop. This year, the event is set for Saturday, April 20.

“Strawberries are very nutritious, and they’re such a pleasure to eat!” said Mitchell Feldmann, director-elect of the Strawberry Program and an assistant professor in the department. “It is a privilege to be able to create agricultural products that solve real problems, produce healthy products and play a role in the joy of so many people around the world.”

The plants, grown in 4-inch pots in a greenhouse on campus, are cared for by a team lead by greenhouse manager William Werner.

Strawberry program has international reach

Many strawberry growers are supported by the work being done in the university’s strawberry program: About half of the California acreage devoted to strawberries is planted with varieties developed here, Feldmann said. Researchers work in Davis and with collaborators from across the country and around the world. Their goal is to advance our knowledge of genetics and biology that can help breeders at UC Davis develop even better varieties that address regional needs and conditions, he added.

The program also trains students – both undergraduate and graduate level – who will go on to work in the strawberry, small fruit, and vegetable industries, Feldmann said. “We are always looking to support our students and provide meaningful research opportunities for them. We aim to make genetic discoveries and quickly translate them into better varieties for California's strawberry growers."

Read more about the Strawberry Breeding and Research Program at UC Davis here.

Grow these healthful beauties at home

Your strawberry start has been nurtured with care in one of our plant nurseries on campus. At home, transplant the start into the ground or a larger pot, digging a deep-enough hole so the roots remain straight. Strawberries like full fun and good drainage. Be sure to water at the base of the plant and don’t get the leaves wet, which increases the risk of disease.

An excellent and more detailed explanation of how to grow your strawberry plant is here.

Strawberries are loaded with things that promote good health: Vitamins, minerals, fiber and other elements reduce inflammation, protect heart health and may fight cancer, according to research. Read about the health benefits of strawberries here