Growing for a Sustainable Future
California’s strawberry farmers are among the most progressive and environmentally conscious growers in the state and the world.
With sustainable farming in-mind, they are always looking toward a better way of doing things: better for workers, better for the land, better for communities, and better for the planet.
California strawberry growers are constantly evolving and learning the most sustainable farming practices and ways to grow strawberries, and then putting them into practice. When water was scarcely available, strawberry growers implemented drip irrigation. As migrant farmworkers were looking to start a new life and family, strawberry farming made it possible for them to settle into a single location in the state and work year-round, many advancing into managerial and ownership positions.
About California Strawberries
Strawberries are a vital and loved crop in the United States, and California leads the way in production with about 90% of the US-grown strawberries coming from the Golden State. On an average year, California strawberry growers harvest 1.8 billion pounds of strawberries.
All California strawberries are hand-picked and packed in the field. This is a critical part of a berry’s journey because strawberries do not continue to ripen after they’re harvested. It’s all dependent on the skilled harvesters who know exactly which berries are ready to pick.
Immediately after harvesting, the strawberries are taken to a cooling facility where huge fans cool them down and draw out the field heat. Once cooled, they’re loaded into refrigerated trucks for same-day shipments for arrival within 3-4 days to grocery stores across the country.
