Recent News
A record-breaking 200 samples at the Center's diagnostic clinic!
Dec 18, 2024
The Strawberry Center's diagnostic clinic has reached a record-breaking 200 samples this year! Leading this effort is Dr. Shashika Hewavitharana and Samantha Simard, who are assisted by our undergraduate students. This service is funded and facilitated by the Strawberry Commission team, especially Andrew Molinar, who coordinated sample submissions with growers and PCAs. We're excited to see what is in store for 2025!
If you would like to submit a sample please follow the guidelines available here: https://strawberry.calpoly.edu/strawberry-disease-information-form
Recent glimpses into early mornings and evenings at the Center
Dec 10, 2024
A recent glimpse into the early mornings and evenings here at the Center. We're lucky to be in such a beautiful place!
Investigating UV-C light as an arthropod pest management strategy in strawberries
Dec 5, 2024
Colin Koubek, our Entomology Research Associate, is currently examining the effects of UV-C as an arthropod pest management strategy in strawberries. Eggs of two-spotted spider mites and lygus were placed in the field, three dosages of UV-C light were applied, and egg hatch percentage was counted to determine ovicidal effects of UV-C. Interested in learning about the research process? Click here: https://youtu.be/S0QAxiuOAIg?si=ivz_qBF92mDuf-iX
Hosting the 2024 Annual PIP-CAP Meeting
Nov 26, 2024
We had the pleasure of hosting PIP-CAP's (Precise Indoor Propagation Coordinated Agriculture Project) 2024 Annual Meeting here at the Strawberry Center. This project is sponsored by the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) and by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. There was a great Q&A discussion panel featuring Hillary Thomas, Mike Nelson and Michael Schwieterman. In addition, we were able to take the group on a tour of our fields and throughout campus, as well as a tour of growers in Santa Maria.
NEW BLOG POST: Strawberry Center Diagnostic Service
Nov 22, 2024
NEW BLOG POST: "Cal Poly Strawberry Center Diagnostics"
The pathology lab reflects on a productive year, with 185 plant samples processed to date—the highest since the service began in 2014. Supported by the California Strawberry Commission, this free diagnostic service continues to provide growers with accurate and timely results.
Learn more about the service and submission process: https://strawberrycenterblog.com/2024/11/18/cal-poly-strawberry-center-diagnostics/
The Center hosts a delegation from Kyrgyzstan
Nov 19, 2024
This past week, we had the honor of hosting a delegation from Kyrgyzstan, led by Tilek Toktogaziev, Chairman of the Berry Growers Association (Kyrgyz Republic). Their visit to California focused on learning about our agricultural practices with the aim of improving techniques and increasing berry production in their home country. It was a wonderful opportunity to exchange insights and foster mutual learning!
Photo Key (1st photo, left to right): Tologon Tekebaev, Arsen Tynybekov, Zukhra Ismailova, Mohammad Amir Aghaee, Tilek Toktogaziev and Kaiypbek Ismailov. Photo by Talgat Ukubaev.
Student assistant Joseph Simard featured in Cal Poly magazine
Nov 15, 2024
Proud moment for the Strawberry Center! One of our student assistants, Joseph Simard, was featured in Cal Poly's magazine for his work in firefighting handcrew Santa Lucia Crew 7. Joe started out as a lead sawyer in summer 2023 and is now the Alpha crew member. We’re inspired by his dedication at the Strawberry Center and on the frontlines of wildfire response! We’re lucky to have such a diverse team of students, each bringing unique experiences and skills to the Center. Check out the story here: https://magazine.calpoly.edu/fall-2024/forged-in-flame/
Photos by Joe Johnston.
Celebrating 10 years is the cover story for Cultivate magazine!
Nov 12, 2024
We’re honored to be featured as the cover story in Cultivate magazine, celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Cal Poly Strawberry Center! The story highlights our journey, growth and commitment to advancing strawberry research and supporting the industry. Here’s to a decade of innovation and collaboration—and many more to come!
Here's a link to the story (pp. 7-10): https://issuu.com/cafes.calpoly.edu/docs/cultivate_fall_2024_final
A huge thank you to AnnMarie Cornejo (Director of Communications, CAFES) and Lauren McEwen (4th year Ag Comms student) for writing this story.
Students & staff attend CAPCA's 50th Annual Conference
Nov 12, 2024
Quite a few staff and students represented the Strawberry Center at the California Association of Pest Control Advisors (CAPCA) 50th Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA. In attendance were Gerald Holmes (Center Director), Kyle Blauer (Field Research Manager), Stephen Pryor, Shaelyn Spencer, Taylor Hibino, Olivia Bruns and Sawyer Claussen (Student assistants). Dr. Holmes gave a presentation on disease management in strawberries.
Congratulations to CAPCA on their 50th Anniversary and for supporting Cal Poly student through scholarships and career advancement opportunities!
Transplanting Day 2024
Nov 5, 2024
60,741 plants over 2.4 acres!
While these numbers are quite modest for commercial growers, it's a milestone for our team at the Strawberry Center, marking the start of a new season of research. This year, we were fortunate to have cool, sunny weather on transplanting day—quite a change from past years with temperatures soaring above 95°F!
A huge thank you to our dedicated students, staff and the hardworking labor crews who completed the task in just one day. Special appreciation goes out to Sundance Berry Farms and Blazer Wilkinson Gee for providing labor crews, as well as Lassen Canyon Nursery and Crown Nursery for donating our bareroot transplants. After a day of hard work, seeing rows of strawberry transplants is a reward that makes every bent back and deep knee bend worth it!
