It’s strawberry season in many parts of the U.S, and supermarkets are teeming with these fresh heart-shaped treats.
It’s strawberry season in many parts of the U.S, and supermarkets are teeming with these fresh heart-shaped treats. Although the bright red, juicy fruit can grow almost anywhere with lots of sunlight, production in some hot, dry regions is a challenge. Now, researchers reporting in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural Food and Chemistry have identified five cultivars that are best suited for this climate, which could help farmers and consumers get the most fragrant, sweetest berries.
Most strawberries commercially grown in the U.S. come from California and Florida. With the expansion of local farmer’s markets and people’s excitement about fresh berries, growers in other states are trying to increase production. In Texas, for example, current commercial operations grow a few of the “day-neutral” and “spring-bearing” varieties that have a potentially high fruit output. But there are hundreds of options, including some that are more heat tolerant, and many factors to consider when choosing cultivars to grow that will produce strawberries appealing to consumers. So, Xiaofen Du and colleagues wanted to determine which ones grow well in Texas’ semi-arid, hot environment and have the most desirable berry characteristics — information that could help growers in similar climates.
Read more at American Chemical Society
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