We’re kicking off the 2014 Florida strawberry season with a lot of “fresh” news from the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World! It’s our hope that you’ll not only enjoy the updates on our harvest, recipes and the latest trends for foodies, but also that you’ll contribute your ideas for using strawberries in your own creations.
Kenneth Parker, Executive Director of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association
The FSGA welcomed a new executive director in July. Kenneth Parker, a Plant City native, started his official duties in July. A sixth generation Floridian, Kenneth has deep roots in the strawberry community, having worked for more than 20 years as a certified crop advisor for Chemical Dynamics. He’s passionate about the success of our growers and working as a team to ensure Florida winter strawberries have the competitive edge!
In his new position, Kenneth also oversees two related organizations: The Florida Strawberry Patent Service Corp., which licenses the use of new varieties of Florida strawberries, and the Florida Strawberry Research and Education Foundation, which supports the development of new varieties and other grower-related research at the University of Florida.
And, speaking of research, we have installed a new field behind the FSGA offices that showcases new advances in the industry, and tours of the facility will feature a working strawberry field and a visit with a strawberry farmer to learn what it takes to grow strawberries today compared to how it was done years ago by past generations.
Our focus on developing the best strawberries will no doubt influence our marketing efforts. This year’s goal is to also highlight the sweet, juicy, brilliant red and delicious berries as one of the most healthy and nutritious choices on the planet. With this in mind, we’ve added a new feature to the newsletter. “To Your Health!” will highlight the health (and beauty) benefits of consuming strawberries.
We hope you’ll try our wonderful winter strawberries when they hit the stores soon. Whether you eat them right out of the clam shell, incorporate them into your favorite recipes or try them in a whole new way, we’d love to hear from you, share your ideas and photos of how you enjoyed these jewels of sweet juiciness. Please email your strawberry stories to sue@strawberrysue.com.