Recent News
Sophie Rodriguez awarded 9 scholarships from CLCA
Jul 8, 2025
Sophie Rodriguez, one of our student assistants, was awarded 9 scholarships, totaling $10,000 from the Landscape Educational Advancement Foundation. LEAF is a branch of the California Landscape Contractors Association. Sophie is double majoring in Plant Sciences and Agriculture Science. She plans to use the scholarship funds to pay for school, housing, applications (PCA, CCA, ISA certified arborist, etc.) and potential further education after she completes her Master's at Cal Poly. Congratulations, Sophie, we're so proud of you!
Entomology staff visit the Kent Daane Lab to learn about rearing SWD
Jul 1, 2025
The entomology lab staff recently visited the Kent Daane Lab at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center to gain hands-on experience in rearing Drosophila suzukii (spotted wing drosophila, SWD), a major pest of strawberries and caneberries. Dr. Kent Daane, Dr. James Brown, lab manager Mike Lopez, and technician Emily Henry were generous hosts and provided valuable insights to support the development of our SWD research colonies at the Center. Cal Poly students Colin Koubek, Taylor Hibino, and Sophie Rodriguez participated in the visit and also received training on the rearing of Ganaspis kimurai, a larval parasitoid of SWD. This collaborative exchange will help advance our efforts to establish and optimize SWD research and biocontrol programs.
Strawberry Center students attend UC Davis Strawberry Breeding Field Day
Jun 27, 2025
Strawberry Center students don't just gain hands-on work experience, they also get a front-row seat to the industry in action!
Recently, they attended the UC Davis Strawberry Breeding Program Field Day in Salinas, where new UC cultivars like Eclipse, Golden Gate, Keystone, Monarch, and Surfline were on display.
Events like this connect students to the world of plant breeding, expose them to real-world industry practices, and help them build professional networks.
Field Day is ONE month away!
Jun 24, 2025
Field Day is ONE month away!
Join over 600 strawberry growers, researchers and industry representatives from all over California and beyond on July 24th. Get a firsthand look at ongoing trials and demonstrations on everything from automation to pest and disease management. Specific topics include:
Fungicide and insecticide trial data and resistance monitoring
Predatory mites + fungicides
UV-C and solar-powered tech
Cultivar updates and sanitation practices
Exhibitor stop and product update session
Automated transplanters, harvest aids & more!
Lunch is included. Register HERE. See you there!
Strawberry Center well-represented at the CAFES Research Symposium
Jun 20, 2025
The Center was very well-represented at the CAFES Research Symposium! Five graduate students and two undergraduate students participated in the poster session, presenting on a diverse range of projects, from the effects of packing to UV-C pest management. It was wonderful to see the students share their research and the hard work behind it all.
Interested in looking at their posters? Click HERE. 
The faces of the 2025 Strawberry Center team
Jun 17, 2025
With 11 full-time staff members, 5 graduate students and 22 undergraduate students, this team drives the research and outreach happening every day at the Strawberry Center. We're halfway through the year and so grateful for each member who helps keeps us thriving.
Celebrating our graduating students!
Jun 12, 2025
We had so much fun celebrating our graduating students last week! We served up a full taco bar, all cooked by our staff. Congratulations to all of our wonderful graduates, we can't wait to see what you accomplish!
Field Day 2025 planning in full swing
Jun 6, 2025
Get a look behind the scenes of Field Day 2025 planning! Exciting changes and new additions are in the works, and we think you'll love them. Here you can see Kyle (Field Research Manager) and Mohammad (Entomology Program Leader) discussing the rotational flow for this year's event. Stay tuned, planning is in full swing!
Dr. Elias Marvinney visits the Strawberry Center for PLSC 450
Jun 3, 2025
Dr. Elias Marvinney (UC Davis Industrial Ecology) gave a lecture at Cal Poly on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for environmental benefits and impacts in California strawberry. Thank you Elias for making the trip to Cal Poly and sharing your knowledge and experience with our students! Click below for the full lecture:
Joseph Ramirez successfully defends his master's thesis!
May 30, 2025
CONGRATULATIONS to Joseph Ramirez who successfully defended his master’s thesis this week! His thesis is titled “Improved management strategies for Botrytis fruit rot, Macrophomina root rot, and Verticillium wilt in California strawberry production” and you can watch his defense below.
His thesis committee is comprised of Drs. Gerald Holmes (chair), Shashika Hewavitharana and Bill Turechek (CSC).
We’re incredibly proud of Joseph. After graduation, he will continue his employment at the Strawberry Center as our Farm Manager. Eventually, Joseph plans to return to work with his father farming strawberries in Watsonville, CA.
