Typically, strawberry plants are short-day sensitive and fruit in spring. Leaf development and root growth are strongly regulated by temperature. Excessive irrigation can lead to nutrient deficiencies in the root zone because it can cause leaching of sulfur, boron, and nitrogen. New varieties may be day-neutral and are capable of fruiting under all day lengths, so long as temperatures are cool. The annual hill system is primarily used in areas having mild winters and either hot or moderate summers.

Irrigation

Good irrigation plays an important role in growing and maintaining healthy strawberry plants by allowing for optimal plant growth and crop production. The recommended ways for irrigating this crop are limited. Strawberries food

Introduction

The cultivated strawberry belongs to the genus Fragaria in the Rosaceae family and is a hybrid of two native species, F. Florida strawberries are harvested by hand every three days during harvest season. During the 2014 crop year, 207 million pounds of strawberries valued at $306.5 million were produced on 10,900 acres. increased more than six-fold, from 496 million pounds to nearly three billion pounds, making the United States the largest producer of strawberries in the world.

The cultivated strawberry is an herbaceous, perennial plant, as leaves remain alive and green during the winter in mild climates and survive under mulch in more severe climates. Methods such as flood or furrow irrigation should be avoided.

Harvesting, Packaging, & Storage

Florida produces between 10 and 15% of the total amount of strawberries in the United States and 100% of domestic strawberries in the winter. In order to maintain maximum shelf life, fresh strawberries are typically field-harvested and placed directly into retail containers without being washed. The matted row system employs runners as the primary yield component where plants are allowed to shoot runners freely into narrow rows. This has enabled strawberries to be produced nearly year-around in the coastal regions of California and in summer and fall in colder climates. The hill system relies on crowns as the primary yield component. The fruit’s peak season occurs between April and June in the Northern Hemisphere. Typically, plastic shipping containers are filled in the field to reduce the amount of handling.

In addition, over-watering can lead to either slower root growth or the rotting of the roots altogether. Irrigation can also be used to apply fertilizers and pesticides to the crop. There are two major production systems utilized in the world. The strawberry’s rough surface provides many places for viruses to hide, and once a berry has been contaminated, the virus is unlikely to be washed off. The first system is the annual hill, which uses raised plastic beds (also referred to as “strawberry plasticulture”); the second is the perennial matted row. Ideal methods include overhead irrigation, sprinklers, or drip lines. Determining the proper amount of irrigation is necessary because both excessive and minimal watering of plants can cause problems. Perennial masted rows use short day cultivars in climates with short summers and cold winters. Norovirus outbreaks are typically associated with contamination by food handlers; however, as with the 2016 Hepatitis A outbreak in the U.S., the detection of different genotypes in the German outbreak suggested contamination by sewage.

Production

Soil & Planting

Strawberry production requires attention to cultural practices such as variety, selection, weed control, frost control, and winter protection. The edible portion of the plant, or “strawberry”, is not a true berry; rather, it is a swollen receptacle covered with about 200 seeds.

Foodborne Outbreaks and Recalls

Between 2000 and 2020, at least 30 stawberry-associated outbreaks were reported to CDC’s National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS), causing 790 illnesses, 99 hospitalizations, and 2 deaths. Freezing may only preserve pathogens, and since frozen berries are sold “ready-to-eat”, they can pose an even higher risk of causing illness.

Norovirus is a serious health threat associated with strawberries. Frozen strawberries are typically picked and hulled in the field and washed before freezing. In this system, any runners that form are removed. virginiana. On the other hand, inadequate watering can lead to reduced strawberry size, decreased yield, and diminished fruit quality. Overhead or sprinkler irrigation can also serve other purposes, such as frost protection in areas where frost is an issue or as a way to provide cooling to the crop in hotter weather. Axillary buds at the base of each crown can stay dormant or differentiate into runners, flowers, or leaves, depending on the temperature and day length. chiloensis and F. Strawberries have been the culprit in foodborne outbreaks of Hepatitis A, Norovirus, and E. One and a half pickers per acre are used during peak parts of the harvesting season and picking lasts for eight hours a day. Commercial strawberries are grown in a broad range of climates including temperate, grassland, Mediterranean, taiga, and subtropical. From 1970 to 2013, the production of strawberries in the U.S. The outbreak affected close to 11,000 people. coli O157:H7. Generally, there is one picker per acre who picks for four hours during off-peak parts of the production season. Strawberries are a delicate, highly perishable fruit and, therefore, are harvested by hand and not washed as often or as thoroughly as harder-skinned fruit. The strawberry plant produces leaves, flowers, and runners off of very short woody stems or crowns. Three Norovirus outbreaks in the U.S., one in 2005 and two in 2007, resulted in total of 67 individuals falling ill, and in 2012, the largest foodborne outbreak ever recorded in Germany was linked to frozen, imported strawberries from China.