Grower

Strawberry
the
north carolina strawberry association
March 2011 vol. 18, No. 2
Strawberry mite research plot.
2011 Research Grants
at its meeting on February 21, the Nc Strawberry association Board of Directors
approved a total of $29,792 in grants to fve projects:
Strawberry Cultivar Development for North Carolina (Jeremy Pattison) $9,981.
The Impact of Row Cover Use on Overwintering Two-spotted Spider Mites in
North Carolina Strawberries (hannah Burrack) $5,000.
Development of the Clean Plant Program in North Carolina through Certifca-
tion, Micropropagation, Pathogen-testing and Evaluation for True-
ness-to-type of Strawberry Cultivars (Zvezdana Pesic-vanEsbroeck)
$7,000.
Evaluation of Non-fumigant Based Approaches to Manage Soilborne
Diseases in Strawberry (Frank louws, rob Welker, Bo liu) $4,811.
Development of Improved Methods for Phytophthora Management in
Strawberries and Investigation of the Importance of Fusarium (Frank
louws, Mahfuzur rahman) $3,000.
Funds for the associations grants to research are generated through
the Nc Strawberry assessment plus donations from individual out-of-
state growers. We especially thank these growers for their support.v
See page 11 for more from the Board of Directors meeting.
Its Time to Order Promotional Materials!
We have Strawberry Time booklets, stickers, and
several exciting new items.
New brochure some for free
This years recipe brochures will be in full color,
and you can order 500, 1000, or any multiple of these.
and, with the funds from our Specialty crop Marketing
Grant, we are able to send every Nc grower member 100
brochures as a starter. (last year we sent out North
carolina Strawberries signs.) as with the signs last year, non-
member Nc growers may also request a pack of free brochures.
We hope they then join!
New signs
as growers have requested, we now offer simple arrow signs and
signs that say Fresh Strawberries or U-Pick. You can use
them on the road or on-farm or supply them to stands that buy from you. This year,
we have signs for both North Carolina and for members outside North Carolina.
For all the signs, you can order as many as you want of each type. These are high
quality, full-color signs printed on corrugated plastic. Buying in bulk allows us to get
a much better price than any one grower could get ordering just a few signs.
If at all possible, please get your order in by March 21. Pre-orders are essen-
tial for helping us fgure out how many to order, and we want to be sure to get your
order to you before the harvest starts. Well order extras but cannot guarantee to be
able to fll late orders. Especially for those receiving the newsletter by mail, that will
be a quick turnaround, so feel free to call or fax your order and then follow with your
payment and form later. See page 7 for details; the order
form itself is an insert.
This project received support from the NCDA &CS as
part of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
NC Strawberry
Association Seeks
Scholarship
Applicants
last year, the Nc Strawberry as-
sociation started a new scholarship
program. For 2011, NcSa is seeking
applicants for scholarships from high
school seniors or current college
students accepted to or currently en-
rolled in a land grant university who
are interested in or have declared a
major in a program of study directly
related to the strawberry industry
(for example, small fruit production,
marketing, food science, nutrition,
entomology, agronomy, etc.). The in-
tent of this scholarship is to promote
future leadership in the strawberry
industry.
The Scholarship award for 2011
will be $500; the number of awards
will be decided by the Scholarship
committee based on the applica-
tions received and funds available.
The application and instructions are
posted at www.ncstrawberry.com in
the about section (see the right-
side menu). The application must be
emailed or postmarked on or before
May 1, 2011.
Applications from family members
of NCSA members, both in North
Carolina and in other states, are
encouraged. Please also share infor-
mation about this scholarship with
students who might be interested and
with schools in your area.
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2 The Strawberry Grower, March 2011
Changes to the Frost Freeze
Resources List
The email for victor lilley, TriEst ag
Group, should be vlilley@triestag.com.
The listing for Walker Bros, Inc. was
misplaced between the Greenville and
Williamston offces of TriEst. and
there is one addition to the list:
*Tom Crockett Irrigation, Inc.
P.o. Box 390, Williamston, Nc 27892,
252-792-3121, Sprinkler systems.
See the updated list in the Grow-
ers section of www.ncstrawberry.com.
GRA-MAC IRRIGATION
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PVC Fittings Sprinklers Hydrants
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Hwy 801 North
Mocksville, NC
gramacirr@yadtel.net
1-800-422-3560
336-998-3232
www.gramacirrigation.com
Most downloaded pages, 2009 (% of total)
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Phone 856-358-6493 Fax 856-358-6127
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New Resources on the
Fumigation Regulations
EPa has activated a website with
safety information for handlers in-
volved with soil fumigant applications.
The site contains a one-page (two-sid-
ed) general piece from EPa that meets
the minimum requirements of the new
risk mitigation measures. English and
Spanish versions are available. also
available is a more detailed brochure
from Dow focused on 1,3-D/chloropi-
crin combination products. The sites
can be accessed with either of the links
below:
www.epa.gov/fumiganttraining
www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistra-
tion/soil_fumigants/soil-fum-handlers.
html
In addition, EPa has activated the
Soil Fumigant Toolbox at the follow-
ing link:
www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistra-
tion/soil_fumigants/
This is a great site that contains
links giving easy access to Fumigant
Management Plan templates, labels,
fact sheets, training presentations and
other outreach materials.v
Sensory Analysis Feed-
back to Help Straw-
berry Breeding Work
Which strawberries taste best? how
do different varieties feel in your mouth?
What are the most important aspects of the
strawberry eating experience?
among the characteristics that NcSU
strawberry breeder Dr. Jeremy Pattison is
focusing on are color, taste, texture and
size. In order to improve Nc berries based
on these four characteristics, Pattison must
frst identify specifc attributes favored by
targeted groups. This spring, as part of the
N.c. Strawberry Project, he and the Plants
for human health Institute team are part-
nering with Sensory Spectrum, a globally
recognized consulting frm that specializes
in understanding the sensory-consumer
experience. Panels of those who enjoy and
work with strawberries consumers, chefs,
and produce buyers will be asked to taste
20 strawberry breeding lines and currently
available varieties.
Sensory Spectrum will oversee the sen-
sory analyses quantifying characteristics of
these. once traits and trends are identifed
through this process, Pattison will begin
to incorporate them into his breeding pro-
gram. Stay tuned for more information! v
The N.C. Straw-
berry Project is a
joint partnership
between N.C. State
University and John-
son & Wales Univer-
sity. For more infor-
mation on the N.C.
Strawberry Project,
please visit www.nc-
marketready.org.
TRICKS & TIPS
of the TRADE
Member Kevin hall (charlotte, Nc)
has suggested that we start a column in the
newsletter of helpful farming tips submit-
ted by members. he challenges all mem-
bers to send in their tips and sent these to
get the column started:
To fll mesh rock bags, cut about 12
inches of a 6-inch diameter Pvc pipe and
bevel one end. Knot the mesh bag and pull
open end over the beveled pipe. Flip the
pipe over and fll with rock, then remove
the pipe and tie off the bag.
a hot-glue gun works great for repairing
rips in spun-bonded row covers.
When lapping one row cover over the
next, lay upwind cover (if there is prevail-
ing cross wind) on top of downwind cover.
This helps keep wind from getting under.
a squirrel cage-type paint mixer and
cordless drill work great for mixing
soluble fertilizers.
Black Ul-181 hvac fex duct tape
works great for repairing tears in plastic
mulch. (This tape is a very thin plastic
tape that is cheaper and better looking than
duct tape).
Take up Kevins challenge! Send your
tips via email or mail, or simply call the
NCSA offce. Photos or drawings welcome.
The Strawberry Grower, March 2011 3
Have You Signed Up at www.StrawberryWeather.com?
Be sure you visit this site to sign up frost protection alerts and other advisories!
You can also sign up for a forecast tailored to your location. These free alerts and
forecasts come directly to your email Inbox. Subscriptions to berry-mg, the previ-
ousl alert mailgroup provided by Dr. Barclay Poling do not transfer to Strawberry-
Weather.com. You will need to start a new subscription by visiting www.Strawberry-
Weather.com When you sign up, you will have a choice whether to get the berry mg
equivalent or a daily weather report or both.
March/
April
Grower
Checklist
qorder promo materials and Strawberry
Time booklets from NcSa now.
qcomplete leaf sanitation before the on-
set of new growth from the crown.
qafter new growth begins, pull up side
crowns and leaves caught under plastic.
qIf you havent already, make sure irriga-
tion systems for frost protection and
drip are ready for use. check your
frost alarm and test your thermometers.
qMonitor weather forecasts closely;
consider a subscription to a custom
weather report/service (see list in Janu-
ary newsletter and box above).
q hook up drip within 1-2 weeks after
new growth has started. Make frst N
fertilizer injection.
qSend in leaf samples every 14 days
and adjust fertility accordingly. Drip as
needed.
qScout felds for mites, insects, and dis-
eases. Botrytis, anthracnose, powdery
mildew, aphids, thrips, mites, and clip-
pers will be your primary pest problems
at this time. Send suspicious-looking
plants to the clinic for diagnosis aSaP.
qTry to get pest and disease problems
under control with dormant, pre-bloom,
and pre-harvest sprays. customers
dont like to see sprayers in the feld
when they are picking, and a few early
sprays can be more effective than a lot
of late ones. Some fungicides can only
be used in the pre-bloom period.
qcontrol weeds or ryegrass in aisles
with herbicide if you have not done so
already.
qapply straw mulch in aisles.
qPlace two hives of honeybees per acre
near your feld.
qSchedule picking and sales labor.
qorder porta-potties and emphasize
proper sanitation for farm laborers.
qcheck with your buyers to make sure
they are ready for your berries.
qNew growers: make sure your custom-
ers know where you are and when you
will start picking. consider running an
ad a couple of weeks before harvest to
remind them that you will have berries.
qGet stand ready for sales as season ap-
proaches. Tidy up around stand.
qhave scales checked by NcDa well
before needed.
qcheck inventory for supplies: picking
containers, quart baskets, fats, etc.
qWhen berries are ready, put out signs
on roadsides to direct customers to your
felds. Start the season!
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Farewells
Two key people working with strawber-
ries in the NcSU Plant Pathology Depart-
ment are moving on. Mahfuzur Rahman,
who has been working as a post-doctorate
fellow on strawberry diseases since the
spring of 2007, has taken a tenure-track
position at West virginia University as an
Extension Pathologist.
Rob Welker, who has been Methyl
Bromide replacements Project coordina-
tor since 2005, has taken a job with the
chemical company arkema, as a agricul-
tural Engineer in charge of stewardship
and technical issues for their new fumigant
Paladin. he writes, I am excited about
this new opportunity and I feel this is go-
ing to be a great career move, but I will
miss working here at NcSU.
We wish them both all the best, and ap-
preciate all they have done for strawberry
growers!
Their departures will leave a big hole,
but Dr. louws expects to have funding
to fll both positions; if you know anyone
who may be interested, please pass the
word.
4 The Strawberry Grower, March 2011
Mid-South Greenhouse
Strawberry Production
By Dennis Deyton and Carl Sams, Univer-
sity of Tennessee Dept. of Plant Science
can the strawberry production season
be extended in the mid-South beyond the
normal spring harvest? Prices are higher
during the off-season when supply is re-
duced. research by others has shown that
production on raised plastic-covered soil
beds in high tunnels can advance harvest
by several weeks. Planting plug plants in a
similar system in late summer can produce
a fall crop. Growers in Europe, especially
in Belgium and the Netherlands, have used
programmed production such that they
combine outdoor and greenhouse produc-
tion to yield strawberries nearly year-
round. reports from Europe indicate that
strawberries have been grown in soil beds
in protected culture for decades. however,
repeated production in soil in protected
culture can eventually result in reduced
yields due to increases of soilborne pests
and/or accumulated fertilizer salts in the
soil. Thus, the grower may need to reduce
pathogens through cultural practices such
as fumigation or rotation, and reduce fer-
tilize salts through practices such as leach-
ing. an alternative is to produce the crop
in containers with a non-soil media.
We, along with several Tennessee
vegetable producers, had the opportunity
several years ago to visit the Wageningen
research centre in the Netherlands to
learn about greenhouse vegetable and
strawberry production. We visited Dutch
growers with intensive production of
tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries. The
grower greenhouse operations we visited
were owned and operated by family units
with the produce usually sold through
auction houses. one grower we visited
produced strawberries eleven months of
the year through the combination of about
2.5 acres of outdoor production and 15
acres of greenhouse production (see photo
above). The greenhouse production was in
high-wall glasshouses with plants grown in
coconut coir in pots of approximately 12 x
9 inches. Plants were chilled at about 36 F
for three weeks before planting. Elevated
carbon dioxide was supplied to the canopy
to increase photosynthesis and yield. The
grower used bumblebees for pollination
and predator/parasitoids to control insects
and mites. Nutrient solutions were applied
through drip tubes. The fruit could be sold
as organically produced when using ap-
proved nutrients. he stated that the green-
house yielded about 1 lb/sq. ft. in the fall
and 2.3 lb/sq. ft. in the winter-spring. as
we boarded to return to the U.S., we were
surprised to see stacks of boxes of straw-
berries being loaded onto our airplane.
In Tennessee, we are evaluating fall
through spring production in less costly
polyethylene-covered greenhouses. our
research house is a 96 x 30-foot polyeth-
ylene-covered greenhouse heated with
propane and cooled with fans, evaporative
cooling pads, and shade cloth (fall and
spring). We try to transplant plug plants
in the frst week of September into pots
of non-soil media. Tip cuttings and plug
plants have been diffcult to obtain as as
early as we desire; thus we produce our
own. after trying various container sizes,
we now grow single plants in 6-inch pots
in a media of 50% perlite, 50% commer-
Greenhouse strawberry production in the Netherlands.
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The Strawberry Grower, March 2011 5
cial potting mix. Pot spacing depends on
cultivar and environmental factors that
infuence yield and disease occurrence.
Bumblebees have been effcient pollina-
tors for greenhouse strawberries and hives
have been effective for up to six weeks.
our strawberry production during the frst
week of January 2011 is shown above. The
wooden posts in the picture were establi-
shed for a previous tomato trial.
We are producing crops with none to
minimal pesticide usuage. Powdery mil-
dew is the most common disease on green-
house strawberries and is relatively easy to
control with ventilation and sulfur sprays.
Botrytis was a major disease problem
in one growers house but we have been
able to control it without pesticides in our
house by ventilating and using fans for air
circulation to control relative humidity,
and by controlling plant vigor and canopy
density. The two-spotted spider mite po-
Greenhouse strawberry research in Tennessee, using a 96 x 30 feet polyethylene-
covered greenhouse; photo taken in early January 2011.
pulation has been our most frequent pest
problem, but we have very good control
with IPM use of the predator mite Phy-
toseiulus persimilis. Two types of aphids
were brought into the house one year
along with other plant material introduced
into the house. They were quickly brou-
ght under control with predator insects.
Whitefies became a problem one year
and were quite damaging to production.
Through IPM monitoring and use of the
wasps Encarsia formosa to parasitize the
larva, we have obtained excellent control.
The next year, thrips became the major
pest attacking fowers. We have since used
the predator mite Neoseiulus cucumeris
and the predatory bug Orius to provide
adequate control. We have produced crops
without synthetic pesticides; the use of
biologicals is an approach that can reduce
synthetic pesticide use. Many growers
would change to pesticides if biologicals
no longer provided acceptable control. It
appears to be quite possible to produce
strawberries in greenhouses organically if
approved fertilizer is used. We are unsure
of the economics of strawberry production
in polyethylene-covered greenhouses but
are evaluating that this year. v
For more information on this work,
contact Dennis Deyton at deytond@utk.
edu or 865- 974-8822.
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6 The Strawberry Grower, March 2011
strawBerry
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The Strawberry Grower, March 2011 7
strawBerry
Virginia Beach
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Strawberry Time booklets
The story of plasticulture production, word and
picture puzzles, and simple recipes. Great for
school and preschool tours or other promotions.
There is space to stamp/sticker your farm name.
Or, have it imprinted for $130. Shipping will be
billed. Boxed in quantities of 300 and 500.
Quantity NCSA Members Non-members
100 to 299 .47 each .54 each
300 to 1000 .43 .49
1001 to 2000 .39 .45
2001 to 4,500 .36 .43
Over 4,500 .33 .38
Stickers
Great for PYO,
school groups,
festivals, or any-
where you can hand them out to children
or adults. 2 inch round or 1.5 x 2 inch oval.
$50/roll (1000 stickers). Includes U.S. postage. $5/roll discount on
orders of 5 or more rolls.
Brochures
Now in full color! 8.5 x 14, folded
to four panels. Recipes, nutrition info,
and instructions for picking, measur-
ing, storing, and freezing, Space to
stamp or sticker farm information.
500 for $80, 1000 for $150. Cover
mock-up shown; fnal design may
differ somewhat. 100 will be sent
FREE to all NC grower members.
Other NC growers may also request
this free quantity. These will go
quickly, though; order more now....
Customized Signs
Set of four, corrugated plastic, each 18
x 24. White background, text in red &
green. Graphics on one side or both.
Set them up in a row for a Burma-
shave look. NCSA members only;
non-NC members can get a generic
strawberry instead of the logo. Per set
of four: One-sided $55. Double-sided
$75. Heavier stands: $10/set. Shipping
will be billed.
OrDEr NC STrAwbErry ASSOCiATON PrOMOTiONAl MATEriAlS NOw!
Use the order form sent with the newsletter or at www.ncstrawberry.com.
www.ncstrawberry.com
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OLINA STR
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S

Just Ripe for You Corrugated Plastic roadside Signs
18 x 24. White with full color printing. All signs except the straight
ahead arrow are double-sided and can be used on either side of the
road. All signs for NC growers will include the Got to be NC logo.
With 24-inch-tall wire stands. Discount to NC Strawberry Association
members. Available to NCSA members from any state and to any
growers/markets in NC; not available to out-of-state non-members.
See pricing in table below. You will not be able to get such nicely
designed signs at this price without the beneft of our bulk order!
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Sign (18 x 24)
(prices per sign)
NC NCSA
member
Non-NC NCSA
member
Non-member NC
grower/market
U-Pick* $15 $15 $20
Fresh* $15 $15 $20
NC Strawberries * $15 XXX $20
Right/left arrow * $15 $15 $20
Straight ahead
arrow
$12 $12 $17
* two sided; use on either side of the road
Extra stands: $1.25 ea
Shipping: $10 for 1-4, $13 for 5-6. Fits 6/box; order multiples of these quantities.
Please order by March 21
especially if your order is large.
we print based on pre-orders.
while we will order extras, and
welcome later orders, we can
not guarantee to fll them.
STRAWBERRIES
NORTH
CAROLINA
JUST RIPE FOR YOU!
STRAWBERRIES
JUST RIPE FOR YOU!
FRESH
Price Overview on New Signs
D
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A
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All signs for North Carolina
will include the Got to be
NC logo as shown on these
signs. Signs for outside NC
are the same but without the
logo, as shown in the
examples on the bottom
row.
item Quantity Total Cost
Strawberry Time booklets
Shipping will be billed.
q Imprint (contact the NCSA offce to provide
exact info)
NCSA Members Non-members
100 to 299 .47 each .54 each
300 to 1000 .43 .49
1001 to 2000 .39 .45
2001 to 4,500 .36 .43
Over 4,500 .33 .38
Recipe Brochures

500 brochures $80 Shipping included
1000 brochures $150 Shipping included
______ x 500
_____ x 1000
Oval i Picked Stickers $50/roll of 1000* Shipping included ______ rolls
round i love local Stickers $50/roll of 1000* Shipping included ______ rolls
Customized road Signs for members only.
Shipping will be billed. Farm Name for sign:
_____________________________________
Graphics on 1 side, set of four signs, $55 ______ sets
Graphics on 2 sides, set of four signs, $75 ______ sets
Upgraded Stands, $10 set of four ______ sets
Double-sided full color signs
(can use either side of the road)
$15/sign to members
$20/sign to non-members
North Carolina Strawberries sign**
______ signs
Fresh Strawberries sign **
______ signs
U-Pick Strawberries sign **
______ signs
left/right arrow sign **
______ signs
One-sided full color signs
$12/sign to members, $17/non-members
Straight-ahead arrow sign ** ______ signs
Extra wire stands for signs 24 tall. $1.25 each. _____ stands
Shipping for signs (except customized signs,
for which shipping will be billed)
1-4 signs $10. 5-6 signs $13. Signs ft up to 6/box
Calculate shipping by number of boxes required.
NC Strawberry Assoc. membership: q $50 NC q $65 out-of state q Renewal q New member
TOTAl ENClOSED
*$5/roll discount on orders of 5 or more rolls (can mix styles)
**All signs come with a 24 wire stand. Signs for NC growers include the Got to be NC logo.
Date order sent ________________________ NCSA member? qYes qNo q Joining/renewing below
Name ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Farm/company name__________________________________________________________________________________________
Day phone _________________________________________Email ____________________________________________________
Street address (for UPS) _______________________________________________________________________________________
Mail if different: _______________________________________________________________________________________________
City ________________________________________________________________State _____________ Zip ___________________
Send orders to: 1138 rock rest rd, Pittsboro, NC 27312 or fax to 866-511-6660 (toll-free)
Questions: call 919-542-4037 or email info@ncstrawberry.com
NC STrAwbErry ASSOCiATiON 2011 PrOMOTiONAl MATEriAlS OrDEr FOrM
Free brochures to NC Growers The NC Strawberry Association will send a free Sample Pack of 100 Recipe Brochures
to all NC grower members and is offering it to other NC growers on request. To request, please fll out below:
q Yes, please send me the free recipe brochures. I confrm that I am a North Carolina strawberry grower.
Strawberry acreage for 2011 ____________ Signature ____________________________________________________________
This project received support from the NCDA & CS as part of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
Method of Payment: q Check or money order payable to NC Strawberry Association qVisa q Mastercard
Card #_________________________________________________________________________ Exp. date ____________________
8 The Strawberry Grower, March 2011
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The Strawberry Grower, March 2011 9
By Michael J. Wellik
The frst half of this article was published
last issue. It introduced the concept of
Gourmet Strawberries and discussed
their use in Europe and the fedgling level
of production in the U.S. It described two
kinds of gourmet strawberries, Mara des
Bois and pineberries. This concluding
section describes other types.
Alpine Types
This gourmet type is also known as
fraises des bois. These are open pol-
linated varieties that are not hybrids. The
varieties are selections and the oldest have
been cultivated in Europe for around 300
years. There are varieties that produce red,
white, or yellow fruit. red fruiting variet-
ies are favored in Europe and the Western
U.S. European trained chefs seldom are
interested in white or yellow fruit. less
traditional chefs will use white and yellow
fruit to give their customers a memorable
experience with something different.
Several European countries boast acre-
ages of around 50 acres each of fraises des
bois production. There are several grow-
ers in Europe that export fruit to the U.S.
I am aware of several growers in the U.S.
that grow no more than an acre of fraises
des bois each. however, more and more
U.S. growers are interested in growing this
highly specialized crop.
Most of the geographical areas where
fraises des bois are currently grown in
the U.S. are coastal with mild climates. I
know of one grower in central Pennsyl-
vania with a half-acre of production. I
have grown fraises des bois for sale to a
high-end restaurant in Philadelphia. My
experience was with about a quarter-acre
of feld grown plants. That experience and
research that I have conducted for a num-
ber of years have led me to a number of
observations and conclusions:
This is a very labor-intensive crop due to
the size of the fruit.
Field-grown plants are more diffcult
to harvest and are more susceptible to
weather and pest damage. harvesting the
crop requires stoop labor and laborers
are diffcult to fnd.
The alpine type of strawberry has growth
habits different from traditional hybrid
varieties. Not all methods and techniques
currently employed are applicable to com-
mercial production of alpine types.
Potential sales from small acreages rival
Continued on page 9
returns from whole farms of convention-
ally grown hybrid strawberries.
Outside of coastal areas with mild
climates I recommend growing the crop
in a protected environment such as a high
tunnel.
Variety trials and experience show that
growing multiple varieties produce more
consistent production due to the cyclical
nature of production of the day neutral
plants.
Runnering June-bearing varieties are
worth trialing.
Most literature available both online
and in print paint a picture totally differ-
ent than reality. This is especially true of
garden writers in the United States. alpine
strawberry plants are depicted as cute little
ornamentals that are not very productive.
My research and experience show this to
be false.
Container production trials have shown
clear season extending capabilities of
certain types of containers. I have not yet
tested combinations of techniques and
methods on a commercial scale.
Growing methods that reduce labor
required for production are available.
Trials are needed to assess practicality and
economics.
Growing Gourmet Strawberries Commercially
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Continued on next page
10 The Strawberry Grower, March 2011

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all at once. The musky taste is reminiscent
of certain types of wine.
I have never attempted to grow this
type and market them commercially. Trials
are necessary to determine the commercial
potential.
Other Gourmet Types
I have been collecting and trialing
varieties of several species not already
mentioned. These include a number of Eu-
ropean and U.S. heirloom varieties. Some
have never been grown commercially. oth-
ers fell out of favor due to the soft nature
of the fruit making it less desirable to ship
large distances. The buy local movement
currently underway in the U.S. raises the
question whether some of these variet-
ies might be grown and sold into local
markets. Small and large scale testing is
needed to select varieties that have poten-
tial to be grown for these local markets.
Each will have to be assessed individually
in its local environment.
Conclusion
There is tremendous potential for com-
mercialization of gourmet strawberries.
Most of the varieties mentioned likely will
not ever be grown on large acreages. Some
will be adaptable and accepted in cer-
Drip irrigation is an essential component
of a production system for alpine straw-
berries.
There are multiple markets for fraises
des bois fruit. Some believe that the only
market is to high-end restaurants but this
is not the case.
Strawberry growers tend to have a nega-
tive attitude toward fraises des bois largely
due to the size of the fruit.
Fraises des bois production can be incor-
porated into a hybrid strawberry operation
within limits due to pest considerations.
Organic and all-natural methods can be
successfully used for small production
areas. Testing is needed on larger areas to
determine if these methods will continue
to be economical and practical.
Musk Strawberries
Musk strawberries are not self-pollinat-
ing. a male and a female are needed for
production. In practice, I suggest that cus-
tomers purchase plants of several varieties
to optimize pollination.
a University of Maryland researcher is
conducting extensive breeding trials with
this type of strawberry. his story appeared
in Smithsonian magazine several years ago
[Dr. harry Swartz, in the april 2006 issue,
/www.smithsonianmag.com/science-na-
ture/strawberry.html].. I have tried to con-
tact him. I dont know the current status of
his research.
I can confrm that he is on the right
track. This strawberry is like nothing you
have ever tasted. a couple of years ago I
donated a few plants of several types to
a chef in Pennsylvania, including musk
plants. The day I delivered them I had a
half-pint of the fruit to offer him. he and
his partner had the most interesting looks
on their faces I have ever seen. he still
says that it is his favorite strawberry.
What is it about musk strawberries that
make them a chef s favorite? First of all,
the aroma is very strong and penetrating.
When you encounter the aroma you dont
immediately identify it as a strawberry.
and the taste is memorable as well, though
some immediately dont like the taste. It is
impossible to describe. My best stab at it
is to say that these strawberries taste like
pineapples, strawberries and raspberries
Growing Gourmet Straw-
berries Commercially
Continued from page 9
The Strawberry Grower, March 2011 11
Calendar
Indicates events sponsored by the NC
Strawberry Association. Please send in
info about upcoming events. We will also
post them on our website.
March 4 2011 Northern Piedmont
Specialty Crops School, roxboro, Nc.
For details and registration, visit http://
granville.ces.ncsu.edu or contact carl
cantaluppi at carl_cantaluppi@ncsu.edu
or 336-599-1195.
March 4 NASGA Webinar on Day
Neutral Strawberries (see below)
March 11, 18, 25 NASGA Webinars on
Emerging Pest & Disease issues of straw-
berries (see below).
March 17 4th Annual Virginia Berry
Production and Marketing Conference,
at virginia State University Petersburg,
va. Includes sessions on blackberries,
raspberries, grapes, pest management, and
more. $15/person registration; register by
March 9. For more information, contact
reza rafe, arafe@vsu.edu.http://vsuag.
net/
Strawberry Days at NC Farmers Markets
April 30 Lumberton
May 5 Raleigh
May 12 Greensboro
May 20 Charlotte
For more information, contact heather
lifsey at 919-707-3127 ir heather.lifsey@
ncagr.gov.
June 27-29 Berry Health Benefts
Symposium, Westlake village, ca.
Presented by the National Berry crops
Initiative (Nc Strawberry association is
a member). For more information, visit
www.berryhealth.org.
November 6-8, 2011 Southeast
Strawberry Expo at the Sheraton Impe-
rial hotel, Durham, Nc. Mark your cal-
endar!
NASGA Offers Winter Webinar Series
tions given live by the speakers from his or
her location across the U.S .and canada.
Type questions into the chat box provided
for real-time Q & a with the speakers after
the presentations.
Schedule of Sessions
Day Neutral Strawberries
March 4 Diseases, Dr. Frank lou-
ws, NcSU; Insect and Mite Management,
Dr. David handley, University of Maine.
Emerging Pests: ID & Management
March 11 Brown Marmorated Stink-
bug, Dr. Tracy leskey, USDa-arS appa-
lachian Fruit research Station; Fusarium
and Charcoal Crown Rot, Steven Koike,
University of callifornia cooperative Ex-
tension, Monterey county.
March 18 Strawberry Viruses, Dr.
robert Martin, USDa-arS, corval-
lis oregon; Management of the spotted
wing drosophila in the small fruits Mark
Bolda, University of calliforniacoopera-
tive Extension, Santa cruz county.
March 25 Nematodes and Root Rots,
Dr. James laMondia, connecticut ag-
ricultural Experiment Station; Advances
in Root Weevil Management, Dr. richard
cowles, connecticut agricultural Experi-
ment Station.v
For more information, contact Cathy
Heidenreich, 315-787-2367 or mcm4@
cornell.edu or Kevin Schooley, 613-258-
4387 or info@nasga.org.
tain local markets. Specialty markets will
likely embrace the availability of gourmet
strawberries. as production increases, the
extremely high price needed to economi-
cally market these strawberries will adjust,
making them more affordable and even
more widely available.
The opportunity is now to begin trialing
these strawberry types. I have spent nearly
25 years collecting and growing gour-
met strawberries. If you are a commercial
grower, I would like to work with you to
produce these strawberries and bring them
to the marketplace. I believe that your
customers will appreciate these new prod-
ucts and create new proft centers for your
business.v
Michael Wellik is a new member of the
NC Strawberry Association and was an
exhibitor at our conference in Virginia
Beach. The Strawberry Store, LLC. Mid-
dletown, DE 19709, mike@thestrawberry-
store.com, www.thestrawberrystore.com,.
It is easy to participate online in this
educational series sponsored by the North
american Strawberry Growers associa-
tion and co-hosted by cornells Dept. of
horticulture and cooperative Extension! a
Webinar is a type of web conference where
each participant, at his or her own comput-
er, is connected to other participants and
presenters via the internet.
Presenters communicate with par-
ticipants using real time audio commu-
nication through the computer via use
of headphones and speakers. Presenters
provide information to participants on the
screen (such as a PowerPoint presentation)
as they speak. Webcasts frequently include
question-and-answer sessions to allow full
interaction between the audience and the
presenters.
How Can I Participate?
all you need is a home or offce com-
puter and high speed internet access.
Participation is free, but registration is
necessary to participate. registration is on
a frst-come basis and limited to the frst
100 participants. To register go to:
http://www.nasga.org/ .
all webinars will begin promptly at
1:00 PM EST and last approximately 1
hour and15 minutes.
once you are registered, prior to each
webinar you will received an e-mail with
instructions and a web link. Simply click
on the link to see the scheduled presenta-
NCSA Board Report
Besides deciding on research grants
for 2011(see page 1), the NcSa Board
of Directors discussed a number of topics
and issues at its meeting on February 21.
In brief:
President Michael Beal established
committee chairs: research-David Dycus;
Scholarship - Karma lee - Finance; caro-
line lineberry & Karma lee (co-chairs,);
Nominations - Bernie Kenan; Expo - Mi-
chael Beal.
It chose charlotte (same hotel as 2008)
as the site for the 2012 Strawberry Expo
It also appropriated $2,000 towards Ex-
tension scholarships to the 2011 Expo.
It set the budget for 2011, refned mar-
keting plans, and worked on staffng issues;
a few elements are yet to be fnalized.
It discussed how to get nurseries to
send in assessment remittances in a timely
manner.
Membership Dues Notice
When the Board of Directors raised
membership dues at its February, 2010
meeting, it intended to raise the dues
$10 and devote $2 to the Scholarship
Fund. I mis-remembered the decision
and raised dues only $5 for 2011. Dues
will be increased the full amount for
the 2012 membership year. My apolo-
gies for the error,
Debby Wechsler, Executive Secretary
12 The Strawberry Grower, March 2011
North Carolina Strawberry Association, Inc.
1138 Rock Rest Rd.
Pittsboro, NC 27312
MARCH, 2011
IN THIS ISSUe:
Strawberry
Research Funding
Promo Materials
Info & Ordering
Growing Gourmet
Strawberries 2
TN Greenhouse
Strawberries

2011, NC Strawberry Association, Inc. This newsletter is a beneft
of membership in the association. For more information about mem-
bership or the association, or to submit an article to the newsletter,
contact Debby Wechsler, Executive Secretary, at the address above.
newsletter schedule: The Strawberry Grower is generally published
on a monthly basis except for Nov/Dec and Jan/Feb issues, near the
beginning of each month. Send items for inclusion by the 20th of the
previous month; contact the NCSA offce about fnal deadlines.
Word ads (Buy & sell listings) are free to members for up to two issues.
advertising: All ads should be camera-ready; digital ads preferred.
Additional charges may apply for typesetting and layout. Contact the
NCSA offce to receive a rate sheet, quote, or more information.
DISCLAIMER: INFORMATION IN THIS NEWSLETTER IS BELIEVED
TO BE RELIABLE BUT ITS ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, AND
INTERPRETATION ARE NOT GUARANTEED AND SHOULD NOT BE
RELIED ON AS A SOLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION.
2011 ncsa Board of Directors
Michael Beal, President
936 Kildee Church Rd.
Ramseur, NC 27316
919-795-1181
tom Baker, Vice President
2060 Vaughan Rd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23457
757-721-0558
karma lee, treasurer
2700 Holland Rd.
Apex, NC 27502
919-303-0339
scott Dail
P.O. Box 292
Conetoe, NC 27819
252-724-0868
eddie Denny
6633 Old Roxboro Rd.
Oxford, NC 27565
919-693-4131
David Dycus
250 Dycus Rd.
Sanford, NC 27330
919-776-9338
Bernie kenan
6126 Jonquil Drive
Greensboro, NC 27407
336-852-1594
sue leggett
3593 W. Old Spring Hope Rd.
Nashville, NC 27856
252-459-4961
caroline lineberry
351 Whetstone Creek Rd.
Stoneville, NC 27048
336-589-8730
The north carolina strawberry association, inc.
Debby Wechsler, executive secretary
1138 rock rest rd., Pittsboro, nc 27312
phone: 919-542-4037 fax: 866-511-6660 (toll-free)
e-mail: info@ncstrawberry.com
website: www.ncstrawberry.com