Recent News
Alum Beth Noel visits the Center with Frontier High School
May 16, 2025
We had the pleasure of hosting Beth Noel and her students from Frontier High School (Bakersfield, CA) for a tour of our strawberry fields and entomology lab. Beth is a proud alum of our program, and it was a full-circle moment to welcome her back again, this time as an educator! It's always rewarding to share our work with the next generation of ag leaders. Thanks for visiting, Frontier High!
Steve Koike (TriCal Diagnostics Director) visits the Center for PLSC 450
May 13, 2025
Steve Koike (Director at TriCal Diagnostics) gave a lecture at Cal Poly on strawberry disease identification and management. Steve has had a long and illustrious career as a plant pathologist in the Salinas Valley. After nearly 30 years as a Farm Advisor for the UC Cooperative Extension, he started TriCal Diagnostics. Thank you Steve for making the trip to Cal Poly and sharing your knowledge and experience with our students! Interested in watching the full lecture? Click here:
Center staff present at the Annual CSC Research Meeting
May 13, 2025
The Center was well represented at the Annual California Strawberry Commission Research Meeting in Santa Maria! Our team shared updates on key research topics:
Dr. Gerald Holmes: "Fungicide Efficacy Against Botrytis Fruit Rot and Powdery Mildew"
Dr. Shashika Hewavitharana: "Update on Strawberry Disease Diagnostics"
Dr. Mohammad Amir Aghaee: "Cal Poly Entomology Program: Year One"
Colin Koubek: "Fungicides and Phytoseiulus persimilis"
Hosting Cal Poly classes in our strawberry fields
May 6, 2025
We recently hosted two different classes in our strawberry fields! One was a visit from Professor Lauren Garner's Pomology 2 (PLSC 133) class. They learned about strawberry production with Director Dr. Gerald Holmes. The other was Professor Lisa Cork’s Produce Marketing class (AGB 445). Staff member Sam Simard shared insights on our current research trials and the students got to pick and taste different varieties firsthand. We always enjoy the opportunity to introduce the world of strawberry research and production to fellow Cal Poly students and faculty!
Marina Gutierrez competes at the 39th Annual CSU Student Research Competition
May 2, 2025
Graduate student Marina Gutierrez was selected as one of ten delegates to compete at the 39th Annual CSU Student Research Competition. She competed last week at Cal Poly Humboldt in the graduate division of the Biological and Agricultural Sciences category, presenting on "Effect of Environmental Stresses on the Development of Macrophomina Root Rot in California Strawberry." Congratulations to Marina on making it to the final competition!
U.S. Senator Adam Schiff visits the Strawberry Center
Apr 29, 2025
We recently welcomed U.S. Senator Adam Schiff to the Strawberry Center for an in-depth tour of our entomology lab and research fields, highlighting our partnership with the California Strawberry Commission. Students shared their applied research projects and demonstrated how Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing model is advancing solutions for critical challenges facing the strawberry industry. Thank you for visiting, Senator Schiff!
Colin Koubek wins 3-minute thesis oral presentation competition
Apr 25, 2025
Colin Koubek and Taylor Hibino represented the Strawberry Center as graduate students in Cal Poly's "3-minute Thesis" oral presentation competition. Both did very well and Colin won 1st place ($500) out of 17 contestants for his presentation on "Shedding Light on Strawberry Pest Control: UV-C as a Management Strategy for Spider Mites". Congratulations to Colin and Taylor for competing and Colin for taking first place!
Photo key (left to right): Havir Kalkat (2nd place); Bella Slosberg (3rd place); Amanda Lathrop (interim dean of grad education); Evan Tamayo (3rd place); Colin Koubek (1st place)
Evan Dumas (Good Farms Data Manager) visits the Strawberry Center
Apr 25, 2025
Our ability to interpret data is not keeping pace with our ability to generate that data. Evan Dumas (Senior Data Manager at Good Farms) gave a lecture at Cal Poly on data analytics in strawberries. They are making great strides in utilizing data to improve operations and employee and customer satisfaction. Thank you Evan for making the trip to Cal Poly and sharing your knowledge and experience with our students!
Another fantastic Open House in the books!
Apr 18, 2025
Another fantastic Open House in the books! Our booth featured a prize wheel and engaging displays highlighting plant pathology, automation and entomology. The entire table was run by our amazing graduate and undergraduate students, who had a great time connecting with prospective students and their families. 
Parker Jones visits with the Strawberry Center and PLSC 450
Apr 18, 2025
Parker Jones (Director of Operations, Providence Farms) gave a lecture at Cal Poly on organic strawberry production. It was a great opportunity for our students to gain firsthand knowledge about the practices and challenges faced by organic growers. Thank you Parker for making the trip to Cal Poly and sharing your knowledge and experience with our students!
Interested in hearing his lecture? Click the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHOo8r4SKik
