Sustainability Strawberry Production Systems for Mississippi and Surrounding Markets
1. Sustainable Strawberry
Production Systems for
Mississippi and Surrounding
Markets
William B. Evans*, R.G. Snyder,
R. Arancibia, J.C. Diaz-Perez,
E. Stafne, J. Main, and G. Bi
*MAFES Truck Crops Branch
P.O. Box 231, Crystal Springs, MS 39059-0231
(bill.evans@msstate.edu)
2. Introduction
• Few Strawberry growers in Mississippi
• Significant local industry in Louisiana, historically
more important in Mississippi
• Little local expertise, infrastructure
• Growing local demand and opportunity
• Good climate and soils available
• High value crop that could be locally wholesaled or
retailed similar to how Louisiana berries are marketed
3. Objectives
• To test cultivars for performance in Mississippi under
conventional and organic culture
• To train growers, Extension and others on strawberry
production methods appropriate for Mississippi and
surrounding areas
• To build interest in commercial strawberry production
in and around Mississippi
7. Trial methods
• Seven cultivars, four replications
• 20 plugs/plot
• Twin rows
• 12 inches in and between rows, offset
• 24 inch bed tops, about 4 inch final height
• Black plastic, drip – no frost sprinklers
• Row covers as needed
• Conventional (Choctaw and Crystal Springs); Organic
(Tupelo)
9. Post-Harvest Tests
• Three sampling times:
– At Harvest
– After simulated regional shipping
– After shipping and simulated storage
• Data to collect:
– Brix
– Titratable Acidity
– Firmness
• Results Pending
10. Data and Evaluation
• Harvests every 4 to 7 days, depending on maturity
• Graded USDA No. 1 and 2s, culls
• Weighed
• Berries held for brix, TA
20. Preliminary Outcomes
• Organic and non-organic crops can be produced well
• Deer reduced quality and yield at Choctaw
• Hard winter can interrupt winter set
• Bed preparation and weed control will be important
• Irrigation and fertigation were “easy” for new growers
with training
• Huge interest by individual consumers, grocer and
restaurant trade
• Interested growers see potential for more production
and return
21. Short Course
• Two days
• Choctaw Extension Service Office
• Classroom and field tour
• State and National Experts
• Pre- and Post- Tests
• Free to participants
22. Short Course
Activities and Results
• Full range of topics and experts recruited to speak
• Intense advertising and recruitment for six weeks
leading up to the course
• Speakers were excellent
– Grower and University Attendees learned a lot
– Barkley Poling was featured speaker
• Engaged one lead grower for hours after
– Presentations will be posted on the MSUCares page
• www.msucares.com/crops/ssc
23. Short Course
Activities and Results
• Attendance was not as we had hoped, however, with
few growers and no county level extension personnel
• Tests indicate attendees gained crop and production
knowledge
• Residual effects will be great because of the training
for MSU and a few key growers
24. Project Impacts
• Short Course was a great training. MSU and growers
now have seen the potential of the crop
– Relationships developed
• Horticulture at Choctaw changed forever
– First use of plastic mulch provided excellent training and wa
an “a-ha moment”
– Collaboration was a success, more projects likely
• One follow-on proposal submitted
– Grower wish for an on-farm trial in 2014-15 being discussed
• Relationships with experts and suppliers established
• Crop knowledge increased
• Germ of revived industry planted in several ears