About Us
Growing with Heart, Rooted in Sustainability
The Best Place to Grow Strawberries
California offers the ideal conditions for growing strawberries—sun-kissed days, cool coastal breezes, and sandy, nutrient-rich soil found nowhere else. Stretching along the scenic coastline from Santa Cruz to Santa Maria and Ventura, over 40,000 acres of prime farmland are dedicated to vibrant strawberry fields. Here, hundreds of passionate farmers and thousands of skilled farmworkers nurture each berry with pride, care, and a deep connection to the land. It’s this unique combination of climate, soil, and people that makes California strawberries truly exceptional.
Leading the Nation
While California’s unique coastal climate offers ideal conditions for growing strawberries, it’s the passion, dedication, and innovation of the state’s farmers that truly set California strawberries apart. Responsible for growing 90% of the strawberries enjoyed across the United States—and shipped around the world—California’s strawberry farmers have built a legacy of sustainable farming practices passed down through generations. Today, they grow more organic strawberries than anywhere else on Earth, leading the way in responsible agriculture and delivering fresh, flavorful berries that reflect their commitment to the land and community.
Our Growers & Workers: Empowering People, Strengthening Communities
California strawberries are grown with more than just care—they’re grown with respect, opportunity, and a deep commitment to community. Behind every berry are over 400 family farmers and thousands of skilled farmworkers whose dedication fuels the industry’s success. Many of these farmers—an estimated 25%—once worked as harvesters themselves. That lived experience drives a culture where workers are valued, voices are heard, and opportunities for growth are real. Together, growers and workers are building more than harvests—they’re building stronger communities and a sustainable future for the next generation.
The industry upholds the highest labor safety standards in agriculture and creates more paths to ownership and opportunity than any other crop. Ethical farming is not just a goal but a defining characteristic of California strawberry farmers.
Growing a Sustainable Future
Sustainability isn’t a policy—it’s personal for California strawberry farmers, who live in the same communities where they farm. Their children and grandchildren attend nearby schools, and their families drink the same water and breathe the same air California farmers work so hard to work to protect.
This is why the industry established Cal Poly Strawberry Center at Cal-Poly, where it has invested millions of dollars to develop science-based practices, innovative technology, and improved farming methods that preserve natural resources and minimize environmental impact. From growing and harvesting to packaging and recycling, California’s strawberry farmers are committed every day to safeguarding the land they work and love.
California strawberry farmers also pioneered water conservation techniques and championed practices that reduce the need for pesticides — all to ensure the health of their farms, workers and neighbors for generations to come.
Strengthening Our Economy
Strawberry farming is more than a livelihood — it’s a vital part of our economy. The industry supports 50,000 jobs, helps small businesses thrive and contributes a total of $5.4 billion to local communities and the broader state and national economies. This includes supporting government services through $185 million in annual taxes to the State of California and $425 million to the federal government.
A Nutritious Superfood
Strawberries are one of America’s favorite fruits — and for good reason. They’re naturally sweet, incredibly versatile, and packed with nutrients like vitamin C and antioxidants. Grown with care and harvested at peak freshness, our strawberries nourish both body and spirit.
More Than a Fruit
California strawberries are more than just a crop — they represent a way of life. A love for the land. A commitment to workers. A legacy shaped by immigrant families from Asia, Mexico, and Europe. And a deep desire to make our communities better places to live, work, and grow.
Discover how our strawberries — and the people behind them — have shaped California.
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