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FRASER VALLEY STRAWBERRY GROWERS ASSOCIATION
- Founded almost 30 years ago, the organization represents all strawberry growers in the Fraser Valley.
- Current membership is about 50 growers
- Purpose of the Association is ensure the long term viability of the BC Strawberry growers.
- As processing strawberries are a regulated commodity under the BC Vegetable Marketing Commission, the Association negotiates a price for strawberries annually with the strawberry processors.
DID YOU KNOW?
- All of our wonderful BC strawberries are hand harvested – no machines!
- BC strawberries are vine-ripened and picked daily resulting in the berries having a unique, intense sweet flavour.
- Fresh market strawberries account for 30% of all strawberries harvested by BC farmers. These fresh strawberries are sold at farm and roadside fruit stands with limited distribution through retail outlets.
- Strawberries grown for processing are sent to local food processing plants for freezing –either as sliced, with added sugar or IQF - individually quick frozen berries.
- Farm gate value of BC strawberries varies between $7-10 million per year.
- Imports of strawberries from distant areas such as California/Mexico are of different varieties and are not vine-ripened as they are transported all over North America.
STRAWBERRY PLANTS
- The main varieties grown are Totem and Rainier. A small number of BC Strawberry growers market several new varieties that are “ever bearing” that extend the season of locally available strawberries.
- Commercial fields are harvested for only a maximum of 3 years before being replanted. The life of a field may be shortened if there is a severe winter.
- Our modern strawberry is a descendant of the Chilean strawberry although early settlers noted that Indians were actually cultivating strawberries as early as 1643.
RESEARCH
- BC strawberry growers finance and manage a very strong research program.
- All growers and processors support these research activities with annual financial contributions in support a wide range of research activities. The focus of recent research is development of new varieties suitable for our harsh climate, new integrated pest management practices for control of diseases and pests.
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