Florida Strawberry Members

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

Farm Bureau Legislative Reception

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Sue Harrell, Miranda Mayo, Morgan Boykin, and Glenda McNary at the Florida Farm Bureau 2013 Annual Legislative Days
Sue Harrell, Miranda Mayo, Morgan Boykin, and Glenda McNary at the Florida Farm Bureau 2013 Annual Legislative Days.

Florida Farm Bureau’s 2013 Annual Legislative Days were held this March. The activities started with a briefing dinner for Farm Bureau members on March 18 at the Tallahassee Automobile Museum including Governor Scott’s State of the State address.

The Florida Strawberry Growers Association, with the help of Sue Harrell, Morgan Boykin, Miranda Mayo, and Glenda McNary, dipped over 1,000 strawberries and served them to Farm Bureau guests and state legislators at the annual Farm Bureau Legislative Reception in Tallahassee on March 20.

A legislative reception, including a 4-H awareness auction, was held at the Tallahassee/Leon County Civic Center on March 19.

These events provide an opportunity for Farm Bureau members to discuss public policy issues with state lawmakers and executive department officials in an informal setting. Popular topics of discussion were:

Representative Jake Raburn with Florida Strawberry Growers Association Ambassadors Morgan and Miranda.
Representative Jake Raburn with Florida Strawberry Growers Association Ambassadors Morgan and Miranda.

Agritourism:

  • SB 1106 – Sen. Alan Hays, Senate Committees of Reference: Agriculture, Community Affairs, Rules
  • HB 927 – Rep. Holly Rasche, in House Committees of Reference: Agriculture & Natural Resources, Civil Justice, State Affairs

This legislation seeks to prevent local governments from regulating agritourism activities on land that is classified agricultural and provide limited liability protection for injuries caused by inherent risks. These bills link agritourism activities specifically to bona fide agricultural operations and stipulate that signs warning the public of inherent risks must be visable.

Water Supply

  • SB 948 – Sen. Denise Grimsley, Senate Committees of Reference: Environmental Preservation and Conservation
  • HB 1063 – Rep. Travis Hutson, House Committees of Reference: Agriculture & Natural Resources, Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations, State Affairs

This legislation seeks to balance the expanding role of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) in the regional water supply planning process. Specifically, these bills would allow FDACS to collaborate with federal agencies and universities to provide estimates of agricultural acreage and crop water use, putting agriculture on a level playing field with municipalities and utilities. Additionally, these bills require that water management districts consider data provided by FDACS when determining the needs of agricultural supply.

Participants were given the opportunity to enjoy local food and network with Florida agricultural producers in honor of National Ag Day.

National Ag Day is a day to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by agrilculture. Every year, producers, agricultural associations, corportaions, universities, government agencies and counteless others across America join together to recognize the contributions of agriculture.

In related news, the tenth annual Florida Agriculture Literacy Day is scheduled for Tuesday, April 30, 2013. Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc., invites Florida agricultural producers and other volunteers to read its newest storybook, Florida’s Farm History, to elementary school children to help students understand agriculture. The book helps celebrate 500 years of Florida Agriculture History.

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$15,500 in Scholarships Raised

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Our Ambassadors with the Best Flat buyers John Poppell and Wish Farms, Chuck Hollenkamp and Andy Gutierrez.
Our Ambassadors with the Best Flat buyers John Poppell and Wish Farms, Chuck Hollenkamp and Andy Gutierrez.

2013 proved to be another successful year in raising scholarship money through the Florida Strawberry Best Flat Competition at the 78th Annual Florida Strawberry Festival. A total of $15,500 was raised over three days of competition. This year’s competition raised almost twice the $8,100 that was raised in 2012.

The judges once again had a difficult time determining this year’s winners. The competition was fierce and being recognized as a winner in this contest is a big deal in our industry! The Jay Taylor Band acted as our judges on the final day of the competition.

The Florida Strawberry Growers Association has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships since 1983. Scholarship applications are ready for pick up or download beginning in June each year and are usually due by the middle of September that same year.

The Florida Strawberry Growers Association offers scholarships to encourage young men and women to continue their education beyond high school. The committee will determine the amount of the scholarship, but none will be less than $500.00.

Eligible students must be an enrolled college undergraduate or a high school graduate and submit a letter of intent to attend college. You can find more information on our scholarship program here.

March  1, 2013 – Swine Sale
1st Place Grower – E. W. Simmons Farm
Handler – Wish Farms
Buyer – Wish Farms
$1,100
Total
$1,100
2nd Place Grower – Mike Lott Farms
Handler – C & D Fruit & Vegetable
Buyer – C & D Fruit & Vegetable
$1,000
Total
$1,000
3rd Place Grower – Southern Farm Alliance & Colson Rd Farm
Handler – Colorful Harvest
Buyer – Colorful Harvest
$1,000
Total
$1,000
Total Swine Sale
$3,100

March  3, 2013 – Plant Sale
1st Place Grower – E. W. Simmons Farm
Handler – Wish Farms
Buyer – Poppell Insurance
$1,000
Buyer-Matched by Wish Farms
$1,000
Total
$2,000
2nd Place Grower – Fancy Farms
Handler – Wish Farms
Buyer – Wish Farms
$600
Total
$600
3rd Place Grower – D & K Farms
Handler – Colorful Harvest
Buyer – Colorful Harvest
$650
Total
$650
Total Plant Sale
$3,250

March 9, 2013 – Steer Sale
1st Place Grower – Mike Lott Farms
Handler – C & D Fruit & Vegetable
Buyer – Wish Farms, and
$1,600
Buyer-Matched by Crop Protection Services, and
$1,600
Buyer-C & D Fruit & Vegetable Donated
$1,000
Buyer-Matched by Oaks Farm
$1,000
Total
$5,200
2nd Place Grower – Sewell Farms, LLC
Handler – Westlake Produce
Buyer – Wish Farms
$1,500
Buyer-Matched by Colorful Harvest
$1,500
Total
$3,000
3rd Place Grower – Sam Williamson Farm
Handler – Driscolls
Buyer – Driscolls
$1,000
Total
$1,000
Total Steer Sale
$9,200

2013 Best Flat Competition
Total Scholarship Money Raised
$15,550

Strawberry crop in fine shape

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Florida strawberry growers hold their breath as the new year unfurls with crop and market in fine shape

Ripe Red Florida Strawberries in Field

As the new year rolled into its first week, Florida strawberries were in great shape with abundant volume, excellent quality and — unlike last year — a solid market.

“I hold my breath when I say everything’s fine, but there are not too many problems just yet,” Ted Campbell, executive director of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association in Plant City, FL, told The Produce News Jan. 3. “I think the market will be okay. They’re harvesting full bore right now, which means the prices will come down with the volume of the harvest, but I think we’ll be okay.”

Early in the season, strawberry prices were at near-record highs as demand was strong and little volume was available.

Last year, Florida growers got clobbered by a trifecta of calamity: California, which is usually out of the deal by the time Florida comes on in early December, had an extended season; Mexico had tremendous volume; and a very warm winter — even by Florida standards — led to volume that simply crashed the market as growers tried to unload berries anywhere they could at any price.

Things are different this year.

Continue reading at Produce News

FSGA Launches New Website

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A fresh design for the Florida Strawberry Growers Association’s official website.

PLANT CITY/DOVER, FLA—To fill the needs of growers and the industry, the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA) is sporting an updated, contemporary website, flastrawberry.com.

The site offers a complete range of information from production, marketing, research and education to industry news and events. The site is targeted to growers, retailers and affiliated organizations interested in Florida strawberry production.

Ted’s Talks is a new feature on the site and is written by Ted Campbell, executive director of FSGA. It’s the place where visitors can go to find the latest marketing information, crop status and issues pertinent to growers and handlers.

“Our initial Web site was constructed several years ago. It has served us well but we realized it was time for a facelift,” Campbell said. “We created a recipe-centered, consumer-friendly blog last year, strawberrysue.com, led by our director of marketing, Sue Harrell. Strawberry Sue has become so popular that we chose to fashion a cohesive look for our organization by branding our main website with similar graphic and site navigation elements.”

Visitors to flastrawberry.com can easily access the consumer-friendly blog, strawberrysue.com from the site’s home page.

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Editor note: Interviews with FSGA executives may be arranged. FSGA is a voluntary, non-profit organization of Florida strawberry growers who support research, education and promotion.

Celebrate Strawberry Month

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February is Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month

PLANT CITY/DOVER, FLA — Fresh strawberries in February? February is fabulous in Florida where strawberry farmers are harvesting their sweet winter crop and shipping handpicked fruit to key markets.

“Strawberries dipped in chocolate or served straight up with a dollop of whipped cream are sure to please the special Valentine in your life,” said Sue Harrell, director of marketing for the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA). “It’s a happy coincidence that Valentine’s Day, one of the most popular celebrations in the country, falls during the peak of our season,” she continued.

“Acreage this year is estimated at 11,000 – about 1,000 acres over last year. Florida’s cool nights and warm days have made the berries particularly sweet and the shipping quality is excellent,” said Ted Campbell, Executive Director of the Association.

Strawberry farmers begin harvesting in November and continue until the end of March. Marketing programs are giving consumers, chefs and caterers the knowledge and opportunity to purchase Florida’s flavorful, healthy and delicious berries in the winter when they least expect them.

“We’re celebrating February as Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month to call special attention to winter strawberries. We’re getting the word out this season to as many audiences as possible,” Harrell concluded.

States east of the Mississippi are target markets for Florida strawberries.

After experiencing two consecutive years of freezing temperatures and heavy rainfall, growers are optimistic that mild weather will continue through the harvest season.

Strawberry tips and facts:

  • Eating eight strawberries a day has been shown to lower blood pressure and improve memory and heart health.
  • When you’re on the run, take strawberries with you in a plastic container or sandwich bag.
  • Strawberries taste best at room temperature.
  • Strawberries are picked at full ripeness. Unlike some other fruits, they don’t ripen once they are harvested.
  • A dash of balsamic vinegar, lemon or orange juice will bring out the flavor of strawberries.
  • Strawberries are the only fruit that have seeds on the outside —about 200 of them. Each seed has the potential to become a new variety. Strawberry seeds are all those little bumpy spots on the surface of the berry.

More information about Florida strawberries including recipes, news, events and behind the scenes stories are available on the Strawberry Sue blog.

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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