2006 Farmgate
Fast Facts
News: Media Kits: Georgia Agricultural Resources
Strawberries
From the mountains to the coast, pick-your-own strawberry farms dot the Georgia landscape. In south Georgia strawberries are ready for picking as early as late February. As spring moves northward, so does the strawberry harvesting season, which can span anywhere from six to 10 weeks.
Strawberries rank third in Georgia's small fruit sales, trailing muscadine grapes and top-ranked blueberries. The number of acres devoted to pick-your-own strawberry farms has increased dramatically since 1985. In 1998, Georgia's 45 strawberry farms generated $1.5 million in sales, with an economic impact of $4.5 million.
Strawberries will continue to turn red after they are picked, but they will not ripen further or turn sweeter.
Most Georgia strawberries are grown in raised rows, mulched with black plastic and watered with drip/irrigation feeding systems. Called plasticulture, this intensive-management method enables growers to maximize their yields and enhance fruit quality. Three varieties of strawberries — Chandler, Cameron and Sweet Charlie — are planted in September and October, and Chandler is the most popular.
More Information
- For more information on the Georgia strawberry industry, call 912/587-2772 or 912/847-3322.
- Georgia Fruit and Vegtable Growers Association
- Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium — information for growers
- Home Garden: Strawberries