Florida Strawberry Members

Welcome to the home of the freshest, most delicious strawberries in the world. Enjoy fresh Florida strawberries, available December through April.

Promoting New Crop of Florida Strawberries

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Florida Strawberry Growers Association promoting new crop of fresh Florida strawberries December through March

We are the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World, dominating the market of fresh strawberries during the winter months. Florida is the domestic producer for East Coast markets, competing with increased imports of Mexican strawberries during the same season. As the “local” supplier, our berries travel fewer miles, which translates to fresher, tastier berries for consumers.

Florida Fields PreppedWe are expanding the strawberry research acreage this year. The new field behind the FSGA offices will showcase new advances in the industry, and tours of the facility will feature a working strawberry field and visit with a strawberry farmer to learn first-hand what it takes to grow strawberries today verses how it was done years ago by past generations.

While costs to grow strawberries continue to rise for the farmer, the retail market is very resistant to rising prices. Fortunately, strawberries are a popular consumer indulgence with incredible health benefits and versatility of utilization.

Despite the economic downturn, strawberries have increased in both sales and tonnage at retail. Our farmers are increasing acreage to continue to supply our flavorful fruit during the winter months, and we are optimistic that the popularity of strawberries will continue to grow.

With the increase in acreage this year, and barring any weather disasters, Florida farmers predict they’ll have good supplies of the world’s best strawberries from Christmas through March.

The season is off to a great start. The farmers prepare the land in August and plant from late September through mid-October. Approximately 20,000 plants per acre are all planted by hand! Which means fresh Florida strawberries at Thanksgiving!

The industry will plant more than 12,000 acres of berries this season, which make us the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World. Our industry is committed to providing customers with the safest, best quality and most delicious tasting berries on the market.

2014 Agritech Trade Show

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The theme for Agritech 2014 is saltwater fishing!
The theme for Agritech 2014 is saltwater fishing!

The 32nd annual Agritech is hosted by the Florida Strawberry Growers Association.

As a vendor you will meet with growers and industry representatives, and enjoy great food. Booths are available on a first-come first-serve basis. This is one event of the year where we have almost 90 percent of the industry in one room. And don’t forget about the booth design competition!

Click here to download the 2014 Agritech registration form.

Fishing for up to date information? Join us at Agritech 32 and catch the latest information needed to tackle this years crop.

This event will be one of the best events of the year hosted by the Florida Strawberry Growers Association. You will be able to earn valuable CEU’S, fellowship with other growers and industry representatives, and enjoy great food.  Topics are being lined up now.

*Exhibitors Registration due by July 10, 2014 to be listed in the event program.

Restaurants Feature Strawberries

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Two local restaurants took advantage of the bountiful and delicious local harvest of winter strawberries to create special menus featuring everything from strawberry ice cream to strawberry and brie-filled ravioli.

Ulele restaurant served craft beer and strawberry ice cream in January. Executive Chef Eric Lackey was excited to receive fresh-from-the-field berries to include in his creations.

The Florida Strawberry Growers Association Partnered with Pelagia Trattoria at the Renaissance Hotel to promote the local crop in February.

Every guest checking into the hotel on Valentine’s weekend received chocolate dipped strawberries! And, guests who dined at the restaurant on Valentine’s night received two beautiful long-stemmed, chocolate-dipped berries after dinner!

Pelagia and Chef Brett Gardiner also created a special strawberry menu, where every course and dessert was made using fresh strawberries.

7 or More Servings Reduces Risk of Death by 42%

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header_safeNew Study Shows Eating 7 or More Servings Reduces Risk of Death by 42%

A new peer reviewed study out of the University College of London showed that people who ate seven or more servings [of fruits and vegetables] per day reduced their risk of death by 42%. Consuming that many servings reduced the risk of death by cancer by 25% and heart disease by 31%. This was not a small study – the scientists studied the eating habits of over 65,000 people from 2001 to 2013.

Read more from the Alliance for Food and Farming here.

Learn more about the study by University College London here.

USDA: Dirty Dozen Not So Dirty

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USDA Logo
United States Department of Agriculture

People all hear about the “Dirty Dozen,” but media seldom relates the good news that the USDA continues to find all fruits and vegetables well within the safe threshold for pesticide residues.  On this issue, Dr. Oz is still dead wrong.

Fighting disparagement of safe, healthy produce

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released its annual Pesticide Data Program report. The government findings were consistent with those from previous years: “Residues do not pose a food safety concern.”

Also consistent with previous years, there was no coverage at all from mainstream media about this positive government report concerning the safety of our food.

What is even more concerning than this lack of “good news” coverage is what consumers regularly do hear about produce safety.

Last week Dr. Oz ran another story which inaccurately made this claim about a popular produce item: “…toxic pesticides have seeped in by the time it reaches the supermarket. And washing them does not help.”

– See more at: Fighting disparagement of safe, healthy produce

About Florida Winter Strawberries

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 World and the home of some of the sweetest, reddest and juiciest strawberries around.

Get Connected

Florida Strawberry Growers Association
P.O. Box: 2550
Plant City, FL 33564
Telephone: 813-752-6822
Fax: 813-752-216

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