Texas Strawberry Harvest Off to a Sweet Start: Crop Quality and Consumer Demand Surge
Highlights
- Texas strawberry growers are celebrating an early and high-quality start to the season, with berries described as large and exceptionally sweet.
- Favorable weather conditions, including a milder winter, have contributed to minimal freeze damage and earlier production, boosting overall crop quality.
- Despite some challenges like heavy rains and hailstorms in certain regions, growers have managed to keep diseases and pests under control, ensuring steady prices and production.
- Consumer demand for Texas strawberries continues to rise, prompting growers to expand acreage and offering opportunities for increased profitability.
- The upcoming Poteet Strawberry Festival, scheduled for April 12-14, promises a berry-licious experience with tasting, purchasing, and festivities celebrating everything strawberry-related.
The Lone Star State is painting the town red—with strawberries! Texas strawberry growers are rejoicing as the season kicks off with a bang, offering not just a bumper crop but also tantalisingly sweet berries that have enthusiasts licking their lips in anticipation.
Russ Wallace, a horticulturist and professor at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, heralds this season as a triumph, citing an early start and exceptional quality.
“This year, the season started earlier than it has in the past three to four years, and perhaps by as much as two to three weeks,” Wallace enthused.
“The first berries to come out of the field were large and very sweet, and the quality has been excellent.”
Milder winter conditions have played a significant role in this season’s success story, with minimal freeze damage to flowers and plants. Growers who employed protective measures like row cover cloth reaped the benefits with earlier production and less damage, Wallace explained.
While the overall outlook is rosy, some fields faced challenges due to inclement weather, including heavy rains and hailstorms. These adversities led to a slight increase in fruit diseases like botrytis gray mold, necessitating the removal of affected berries. However, these setbacks were minimal and didn’t dent overall production or prices significantly.
Despite concerns over weather-related losses, Wallace reassured that conventional and organic control practices have kept diseases and pests in check.
Moreover, Texas’ strawberry crops typically require less treatment compared to other states, making for healthier produce.
Consumer demand for Texas strawberries continues to soar, prompting growers to expand their acreage to meet the burgeoning interest.
Wallace predicts a continued uptick in strawberry acreage as more farmers recognise the crop’s profitability and consumer appeal.
The popularity of “pick-your-own” strawberry farms underscores this demand, with prices ranging from $3.50 to $8 per pound. While prices remain steady compared to last year, the favourable growing conditions may lead to increased yields, offering a sweet deal for both producers and consumers alike.
As Wallace aptly puts it,
“Texas strawberries are in high demand and demand a premium price because consumers know what they are getting.”
Locally grown strawberries offer not just superior taste and appearance but also support local farmers and communities.
The upcoming Poteet Strawberry Festival, slated for April 12–14, promises to be a berry-licious affair, celebrating everything strawberry-related. Visitors can indulge in tasting and purchasing berries from local producers while enjoying live entertainment and carnival fun.
Joel Garcia, president of the Poteet Strawberry Growers Association, invites all Texans to savour the bounty of locally-grown berries and experience the festival’s delights. Despite some weather-related challenges, Garcia remains optimistic about the season’s prospects, affirming that this year is shaping up to be a fruitful one for the industry.
With strawberries hitting peak perfection and consumers clamouring for more, it’s time to celebrate Texas’ sweet success in the strawberry fields. So, whether you’re picking your own or indulging in store-bought delights, remember to savour the taste of Texas this strawberry season.
