by RYAN MILEJCZAK
Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida
There are few things better than a sweet and juicy strawberry. And when it comes to winter strawberries, nobody beats the sunshine state.
The strawberries we eat today, known more specifically as the “garden strawberry,” are a hybrid species known as Fragaria x ananassa.
While various species of strawberry have been consumed in Europe since ancient times, these were largely foraged from wild plants. Even when strawberries were cultivated, it was done by simply taking runners from wild plants and cutting and rooting them. It wasn’t until the discovery of the new world that the strawberries we know today took shape. Two species, the North American Fragaria virginiana and the South American Fragaria chiloensis, were brought to Europe and hybridized in the 1700s, giving birth to the modern Fragaria x ananassa, with bountiful, big, juicy fruit.
Despite the name, strawberries aren’t actually a berry, at least botanically speaking. Instead, it’s what’s known as an “aggregate accessory fruit.” This is because the part of the strawberry we eat does not develop from the ovaries, as in most fruits, but instead from the receptacles surrounding them, and each of these accessory fruits combines together into a single strawberry. Even stranger, the “seeds” on the outside of a strawberry are the true fruits that develop from the ovaries, known as achenes, which contain the actual seed inside.
For the 2023 growing season, Florida supplied about 10% of the strawberries consumed in the US with more than 249 million pounds across over 10,000 acres. This represents a value of over $500 million, making strawberries a significant driver of the Florida economy. While Florida strawberry production took a significant hit in 2020, as of this most recent season, numbers have now returned to their pre-2020 levels, with further growth projected in the future.
The bulk of Florida strawberry production is winter strawberries. Florida’s mild winters with plenty of sunlight are perfect for strawberries, allowing them to provide vigorous production of sweet fruits. The Florida strawberry season runs from November through April, when conditions are ideal for winter strawberry cultivation.
With many of our state’s growers looking to adapt to a changing agricultural landscape and the issues facing citrus production, more and more are growing strawberries on their farms. The bulk of varieties grown are developed by UF/IFAS, with the most popular varieties being Florida Brilliance, Sweet Sensation, and Florida Medallion. Newer varieties are also being cultivated, including UF/IFAS’s newest varieties, Florida Ember and Florida Encore.
While the exact origins of strawberry cultivation in Florida are uncertain, it dates to at least the turn of the century. But it wasn’t until the 1920s that Florida strawberries truly rose to prominence with the establishment of a railroad between Tampa and Plant City. In 1930, Plant City held its first Florida Strawberry Festival, which has run every single year since (besides a break during World War II). Today, Plant City is renowned as the world’s winter strawberry capitol.
While strawberries are most commonly eaten raw, they can also be used for jams and jellies, salad dressings, desserts, and much more. However you eat them, they’re a healthy treat that’s packed with vitamin C and manganese and low in calories.
