Do you like strawberries year-round? Have you noticed how expensive they get at the grocery store in October – March? The reason for the change in price comes down to one major factor, where they can be grown outdoors in the Fall and Winter periods in the United States and Mexico.
A group of researchers from four academic institutions (West Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, Texas A&M AgriLife-Dallas, Mississippi State University) have been studying ways to promote strawberry production expansion to a warmer region that is so far not known for its high quantity of strawberries, the US South-Central region. The US South-Central region includes the states of Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.
The planning project is funded by the USDA-NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI). The project looks at how to use protected or controlled environment techniques to extend the season in the South-Central region or even grow in the traditional off-season. These researchers are surveying individuals who have knowledge and interest in expanding strawberry production outside of traditional regions and seasons.
"Strawberry production in the US South-Central region generally begins with planting in October to November, and then strawberries are sold by small-scale growers in March through June. As researchers, we asked ourselves, how might we increase the economic impact of strawberry production for our region?" explained Dr. Nathan Howell, an environmental engineering professor at West Texas A&M University.
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