Strawberry Breeding Program Backgrounder: A Historical Timeline

By Pat Bailey

Quick Summary

• Breeding program started at UC Berkeley in late 1920s
• Revived in 1952 at UC Davis after WWII hiatus
• Program honored by Spain in 1999 for 50 years of strawberry breeding

The University of California strawberry breeding program began at UC Berkeley, led by plant pathologist Harold E. Thomas and breeder Earl V. Goldsmith. Thomas, who would become known as the "father of the California strawberry industry," joined the UC Berkeley faculty in 1927 and in 1934 began working with Goldsmith, who had been foreman of the UC Deciduous Fruit Field Station at Santa Clara.

During World War II, the strawberry breeding program was not deemed a priority and was closed by the university. Ironically, the program was just then hitting its stride, in 1945 releasing five new strawberry varieties: the Shasta, Lassen, Sierra, Tahoe and Donner. That same year, Harold Thomas left the University of California to head the newly formed Strawberry Institute of California, which would later merge with Driscoll Strawberry Associates Inc.

In 1952, the University of California revived the strawberry program -- but this time located it at UC Davis. And the rest is history . . .

1953 Pomology Professor Royce Bringhurst arrived at UC Davis and teamed up with UC Cooperative Extension pomologist Victor Voth, who had joined UC Davis as a strawberry researcher in 1946 in its then Department of Pomology.

1956 Strawberry breeder Victor Voth transferred from UC Davis to the UC South Coast Research and Extension Centerin Irvine, California.

1964 The Tioga variety, developed at UC Davis, was released. During the late 1960s and '70s, it would make up more than half of California's strawberry plantings.

1972 The Tufts variety, developed at UC Davis, was released

1979 The Pajaro variety, developed at UC Davis, was released.

1983 The Selva and Chandler varieties, developed at UC Davis, were released.

1986 Plant scientist Doug Shaw joined the faculty in the UC Davis Department of Pomology.

1989 Royce Bringhurst, known to many on and off campus as "Mr. Strawberry," retired from UC Davis.

1991 Strawberry breeder Victor Voth retired from UC Davis.

1991 Kirk Larson joined UC Davis in the Department of Pomology as a pomologist and UC Cooperative Extension faculty.

1992 The Camarosa variety, developed at UC Davis, was released.

1997 The Diamante variety, developed at UC Davis, was released.

1999 UC Davis received the "Fresa de Oro," -- Golden Strawberry -- Award from the Spanish province of Huelva, recognizing 50 years of research that revolutionized strawberry growing and invigorated the economy in southwestern Spain.

2004 The UC Davis Department of Pomology merged with three other units to form the Department of Plant Sciences.

2004 The Albion variety, developed at UC Davis, was released.

2008 The San Andreas variety, developed at UC Davis, was released.

2013 Funding from the California Strawberry Commission to UC Davis ended because UC Davis strawberry breeders did not seek the funding from the commission.

2013 On Oct. 8, the California Strawberry Commission filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit against the University of California in Alameda County Superior Court.

2014 UC Davis inventoried and organized the entire collection of approximately 1,500 strawberry breeding plants, making additional copies of each plant.

2014 On April 14, UC Davis filed a "demurrer," asking the judge to dismiss the strawberry commission's lawsuit, maintaining that the case was without merit.

2014 In late May, at the request of California State Assemblyman Luis Alejo of the 30th State Assembly District, both the university and the strawberry commission agreed to enter formal mediation.

2015 On Feb. 9, UC Davis and the California Strawberry Commission signed an agreement that included a renewed commitment to a public strawberry breeding program, and UC Davis announced the hiring of plant scientist Steven J. Knapp as the new breeder for the Strawberry Breeding Program.

2015 In June, following a six-month review of the UC Davis Strawberry Breeding Program, the California state auditor's office released recommendations -- including suggestions for future funding and revenue collection -- for the acclaimed program.

2016 On May 3, UC Davis announced progress made by the Strawberry Breeding Program, including launch of a large-scale genetic disease-resistance experiment on campus, addition of an educational program for graduate students, hiring of a new staff researcher, and planting of strawberry-yield trials on five farms from Ventura to Watsonville. It also committed to maintaining the germplasm as a public collection within the breeding program, rather than licensing the research plant collection exclusively to any individual or company.

2016 On May 3, California Berry Cultivars LLC,a strawberry breeding company launched by retired UC Davis strawberry breeders Doug Shaw and Kirk Larson,and their business partners, announced that they had filed a lawsuit against the Regents of the University of California, charging the university with "breach of contract, conversion, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and unfair competition."

2016 On May 6, to ensure that the Strawberry Breeding Program remains a vital public asset for the benefit of California's strawberry industry, the University of California filed a cross-complaint against California Berry Cultivars LLC and the former UC Davis strawberry breeders for patent infringement and breach of contract, among other claims.

Media contact

Pat Bailey, 530-752-9843, pjbailey@ucdavis.edu

Media Resources

Strawberry Breeding Program Backgrounder: Frequently Asked Questions