GIVING

We want to thank you for your gift to Cal Poly's Strawberry Center. We will be reaching out to you as soon as we are notified of your gift.  

Please read below to further your understanding of our current program and our future expansion. 

Click here to GIVE!
 

The California strawberry industry is a leader in research dedicated to reducing the impacts of farming on the environment, limiting pesticide use, conserving resources, and developing more robust strawberry varieties. Our strawberry centered research is closely aligned with industry needs, and focuses on high priority topics such as management of soilborne diseases, integrated pest management of lygus bug and mites, host plant screening for disease and insect resistance, water quality and nutrient management, and improved farming techniques.

The Strawberry Center has access to 10 acres of prime farmland on the Cal Poly campus for purposes of field research and demonstration, including certified organic land, all within walking distance of the main campus. Students receive on-the-job training in laboratory and field-based research methods and industry farming practices. Many summer internships are available each year with a variety of strawberry-centered companies such as Driscoll’s, Naturipe, Smucker’s, California Strawberry Commission, and Reiter Affiliated Companies.

Over 20 applied research projects are in progress at any given time. These focus on soilborne disease management, integrated management of lygus and mites, labor-saving automation, crop protection product evaluation and improved farming techniques.

On The Job Students learn industry farm practices, lab and field research techniques by working part-time during the academic year. Opportunity for summer internships with strawberry-focused companies such as Driscoll’s, Reiter Affiliated Companies, Naturipe, and others are plentiful.