Introduction
In 1980, a few strawberry growers began meeting in their homes to discuss the best way to organize a group that would represent the interests of the Florida strawberry industry. On February 11, 1982, the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA) was born. Hillsborough County is recognized as the Winter Strawberry Capital of the Nation and the home of some of the sweetest, reddest and juiciest strawberries around.
What We Do
Research
Florida Strawberry Research and Education Foundation
A large portion of our revenue is targeted for research. Since inception, the Association has made millions of dollars in contributions to the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ (IFAS) Strawberry Research Program. In addition, FSGA has coordinated and leveraged legislative and community support, doubling the Research Center’s budget and faculty.
The Association is currently funding research initiatives to improve production methodologies, to enhance flavor, to increase plant disease resistance, to better manage invasive insect species, to increase water use efficiencies, to provide in-house tissue culturing, and many other critical projects.
Looking forward
An important part of sustaining our industry is ensuring the talented youth of our community have access to educational opportunities. Since its inception, FSGA has given over $500,000 in scholarships to hundreds of deserving students. We recognize their potential and encourage them to apply their exceptional talents in the agricultural industry. You can learn more under our Community Services section, but it is rewarding to see many of our early scholarship recipients have gone on to become leaders in Florida agriculture.
For more information behind the science of strawberries, you can contact the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center at 813-634-0000, or visit their strawberry website.
You may also visit the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center or for gardening questions contact your local extension office. In Hillsborough County the number is 813-744-5519.
Patents
Florida Strawberry Patent Service
When the first Florida strawberry varieties became available, we formed the Florida Strawberry Patent Service Corporation (FSPS), which provides a turnkey service for royalties. FSPS promotes the patented varieties, corresponds with and collects royalties from the licensed nurseries, helps protect the patents, develops overseas markets, and returns a majority of the royalty revenue back into research at the University of Florida each year.
The program is one of the most successful in the state. The FSPS pumps hundreds of thousands of dollars into the Florida strawberry variety program annually, and the agreement’s oversight stipend has given the organization the flexibility to examine other research funding opportunities.
Strawberries – Diverse Genetics
Many people are surprised to learn that strawberry growers transplant bare-root plants rather than growing from seeds. Strawberry seeds actually contain a myriad of mixed genetic material, which would produce unpredictable plants. Because of complex genetics (humans have two chromosomes, while strawberry plants have eight), each patented variety comes from a cloned mother plant. The mother plant generates genetically identical daughter plants (called runners), and they, in turn, generate the next identical generation.
Each year growers plant over 200 million plants. The major varieties of strawberries grown in Florida are ‘Florida Brilliance’, Sweet Sensation®️️ Florida127, Florida Medallion™️️, and Florida Pearl™️️.
Patented Florida varieties
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Strawberry Research Team is located at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) in Balm, Florida. The strawberry breeding program at the GCREC has produced several patented varieties since the program’s inception in 1992: Sweet Charlie, Rosa Linda, Earlibrite, Strawberry Festival, Carmine, Florida Radiance, Florida Elyana, Winter Dawn, Winter Star™️️, Florida Brilliance, Sweet Sensation®️️ Florida 127, Florida Medallion™️️, Florida Pearl™️️, and more.
Our supporting growers each pay a voluntary assessment to the Association in the amount of $50/acre of strawberries planted each year. In return, the grower members in good standing receive a rebate at the end of the season for Florida patented plants that they purchased.
For more information on growing Florida strawberry varieties internationally, contact our exclusive licensee, EMCOCAL. Please contact Ekland Marketing Company at variety@emcocal.com or 530-345-4476.
Who We Serve
We represent the 65 farm families who make up the Florida Strawberry Industry. It is our privilege to help our growers overcome the barriers they face in growing some of the sweetest strawberries in the world!
Our Sister Organizations
The Florida Strawberry Growers Association has two additional sister organizations which serve the Florida strawberry industry in unique ways. Please see below to learn more about each organization.
Florida Strawberry Patent Service
When the first Florida strawberry varieties became available, we formed the Florida Strawberry Patent Service Corporation (FSPS), which provides a turnkey service for royalties. FSPS promotes the patented varieties, corresponds with and collects royalties from the licensed nurseries, helps protect the patents, develops overseas markets, and returns a majority of the royalty revenue back into research at the University of Florida each year.
Florida Strawberry Research and Education Foundation
A large portion of our revenue is targeted for research. Since inception, the Association has made millions of dollars in contributions to the University of Florida’s Institute of Food (IFAS). In addition, FSGA has coordinated and leveraged legislative and community support, doubling the Research Center’s budget and faculty.
Associations
Florida Farm Bureau
Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association
Florida Specialty Crop Foundation
International Fresh Produce Association
Western Growers Association
Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association
North Carolina Strawberry Association
National Berry Crops Initiative
California Strawberry Commission
Produce for Better Health Foundation
National Council of Agricultural Employers
The Team
Kenneth Parker
Executive Director
Sue Harrell
Director of Marketing
Brianne Reichenbach
Director of Member Services
Tiffany Dale
Director of Business Admin & Finance
Looking to Pick Strawberries?
Click below to find nearby places to pick strawberries.