University of
Florida strawberry cultivars have historically made a large
impact on the Florida strawberry industry. In 1988,
approximately 5,000 acres of strawberries were grown in
Hillsborough County, and the vast majority of those acres were
occupied by California-bred varieties. In 2009, approximately
8,500 acres were planted in Florida, over 60% of which were
planted in UF varieties. Over the past two decades the value of
the industry has grown from 50 million to 350 million dollars
per year. Much of the increased profitability of the industry
has been attributed to increased use of UF varieties, which are
highly adapted to the growing conditions, disease pressures, and
market conditions that characterize this region.
In order to continue the growth of the industry, new and better cultivars must be released. Yet, if these cultivars are not initially adopted by growers and/or managed to their full potential, industry growth will not reach its full potential either. All varieties cannot be produced in the same way. Each variety has its own unique strengths and weaknesses that require tailored management practices in areas such as time-of-planting, fertilization, harvest scheduling, protective structures, and pesticide application in order to maximize its genetic potential. Information on new cultivars is being generated in conjunction with Dr. Bielinski Santos (horticulturalist) and Dr. Natalia Peres (plant pathologist). However, if this information is not shared and management practices are not delineated, the cultivar may be adopted slowly or not at all.
2012 Strawberry Varieties - PowerPoint verison
2012 Strawberry Varieties - PDF of PowerPoint
Whitaker, V.M., B.M. Santos, and N.A. Peres. 2012. University of Florida Strawberry Cultivars. HS1199. Gainesville: University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HS1199).
Whitaker, V.M., C.K. Chandler, B.M. Santos, and N.A. Peres. 2012. Winterstar™ ‘FL 05-107’ Strawberry. HS1198. Gainesville: University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HS1198).
Moyer, C., V.M. Whitaker, and N.A. Peres. 2010. Viral diseases of strawberries. PP273. Gainesville: University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PP273).
Whitaker, V.M. 2010. GCREC Breeding Notes. Berry/Vegetable Times. August- September: 1-3.
Moyer, C., V.M. Whitaker, and N.A. Peres. 2010. SNSV (formerly TSV) in Strawberries. Berry/Vegetable Times. June-July: 11-12.
Chandler, C.K. and V.M. Whitaker. 2010. What the Public Needs to Know About Protecting Strawberries From Freeze Damage. February: 2-3.
Whitaker, V.M. 2009. Breeding Update: Progress in Tissue Culture. Berry/Vegetable Times. December: 2-3.
Whitaker, V.M. 2009. New Kid on the Breeding Block. Berry/Vegetable Times. September: 5.
In order to continue the growth of the industry, new and better cultivars must be released. Yet, if these cultivars are not initially adopted by growers and/or managed to their full potential, industry growth will not reach its full potential either. All varieties cannot be produced in the same way. Each variety has its own unique strengths and weaknesses that require tailored management practices in areas such as time-of-planting, fertilization, harvest scheduling, protective structures, and pesticide application in order to maximize its genetic potential. Information on new cultivars is being generated in conjunction with Dr. Bielinski Santos (horticulturalist) and Dr. Natalia Peres (plant pathologist). However, if this information is not shared and management practices are not delineated, the cultivar may be adopted slowly or not at all.
2012 Strawberry Varieties - PowerPoint verison
2012 Strawberry Varieties - PDF of PowerPoint
Whitaker, V.M., B.M. Santos, and N.A. Peres. 2012. University of Florida Strawberry Cultivars. HS1199. Gainesville: University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HS1199).
Whitaker, V.M., C.K. Chandler, B.M. Santos, and N.A. Peres. 2012. Winterstar™ ‘FL 05-107’ Strawberry. HS1198. Gainesville: University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HS1198).
Moyer, C., V.M. Whitaker, and N.A. Peres. 2010. Viral diseases of strawberries. PP273. Gainesville: University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PP273).
Whitaker, V.M. 2010. GCREC Breeding Notes. Berry/Vegetable Times. August- September: 1-3.
Moyer, C., V.M. Whitaker, and N.A. Peres. 2010. SNSV (formerly TSV) in Strawberries. Berry/Vegetable Times. June-July: 11-12.
Chandler, C.K. and V.M. Whitaker. 2010. What the Public Needs to Know About Protecting Strawberries From Freeze Damage. February: 2-3.
Whitaker, V.M. 2009. Breeding Update: Progress in Tissue Culture. Berry/Vegetable Times. December: 2-3.
Whitaker, V.M. 2009. New Kid on the Breeding Block. Berry/Vegetable Times. September: 5.
