-January 5,2019-
The California Strawberry Commission predicts higher production in California in 2020 led by the Santa Maria district that includes San Luis Obispo County.Their survey says summer volume could be huge this year with volume starting in April.
Over the past five years, higher-yielding strawberry varieties have allowed growers to achieve record production despite decreasing acres. But in 2019 a rainstorm in late May followed by June heat wave disrupted production, the survey noted.
Last year the Salinas growing area was hardest hit with it annual production falling off from 115 million trays in 2018 to 91 million in 2019.Meanwhile Santa Maria district saw 70 million trays in 2018 increase to 74 million in 2019.
Fall planted acres for spring and summer production is expected to increase 4.3% statewide this year but up 7.2% in the Santa Maria area about 35% of state supply- see chart.
Statewide strawberry producers shipped 201.9 million trays in 2019, down from 224.5 million in 2018 and 206 million in 2017.