Download - Revitalization of Texas Strawberry Industry
National Strawberry Sustainability Initiative
Texas Strawberry Project: Russ Wallace (Project Director)
Revitalization of Texas Strawberry Industry through Identification of Production Constraints and Introduction of New Technologies
Texas Strawberry Project Objectives
To revitalize the strawberry industry through:
• Designating five strawberry production centers in Texas.
• Creating strawberry extension and research-led teams to address specific geographically-based needs.
• Identifying current and potential growers to participate and assist with project development and demonstrations.
• Developing production models for each production region based on grower/specialist trials (heat, soils, wind, high/low tunnels, salinity, irrigation, pest management, etc.
• Providing training and collaboration opportunities through meetings, conferences and field days.
• Developing and producing a DVD project documentary, as well as a ‘Production Guide for Texas-Grown Strawberries’.
TEXAS STRAWBERRY PROJECT TEAM
Texas A&M AgriLife Prairie View A&M Collaborating Growers
Russ Wallace Billy Lawton Debbie Cline
Juan Anciso Justin Duncan James Moss
Larry Stein Peter Ampim Milton & Diane Woods
Joe Masabni Russell Prince
Mengmeng Gu Bekki Callaway
Monte Nesbitt George Millard
Genhua Niu Industry Lynn Remsing
Daniel Leskovar G&W Nurseries Ronnie Wheeler
Marco Palma Franklin Wagner
Pat Porter Larry Jollisant
Erfan Vafaie Joseph Mehzer
Karl Steddom Bridgette Watson
Holly Jarvis Billy & Sue Weaver
Angel Fattorini Mary Basinger
Molly Giesbrecht Kyle Barnett
Kevin Ong Steve Young
Alma Solis-Perez
Texas Strawberry Project (multi-disciplinary)
Texas A&M AgriLifeResearch & Extension12 Specialists
4 Research Scientists2 Student Workers2 Graduate Students
Growers5 Current
11 New
Prairie View A&M1 Extension Director1 Research Scientist2 Student Workers
Industry1 Plug Producer
Total Participants41
Outputs
Meetings & Conferences
1st Annual Texas High Tunnel Conference
Texas Strawberry Project Team Meeting
Demonstration & Research Trials
Graduate Student Research & Publications
Albion
Chandler
G. Niu, 2014. Texas A&M AgriLife Research
El Paso
EC 4.4EC 3.3EC 2.2EC 1.1
Statewide Field Days & Tours
www.facebook.com/texasstrawberryproject
Consumer Preferences (Tasting & Purchasing)
DVD Documentary & Production Guide
Media ExposureTexas A&M AgriLife Communications
FacebookTVRadioOnline NewsNewspaperPress Releases
Major Outcomes: StakeholdersNo. of Stakeholders Influenced by the Texas Strawberry Project
Outputs No. Events No. of Contacts
Project Facebook Page 1 176 likes, >5,000 views
Research & Demonstration Trials 22 41
Project Team Meeting 1 30
Texas High Tunnel Conference 1 65
Statewide Field Days & Tours 9 300
Presentations (MG meetings, etc.) 20 500
Consumer Purchasing Auction 1 200
Documentary DVD & Production Guide 2 TBD
Media (Newspaper, TV, Radio, Press Releases, Online Articles, Print Articles
20 >75,000
Est. MS Thesis/Peer-Review Articles 2/3 TBD
Estimated Total 82 >81,000
Impacts
• Significantly increased the awareness of sustainable strawberry production in the state through both social and professional media.
• Successfully introduced Texas A&M AgriLifeand Prairie View A&M extension horticulture specialists and agents to sustainable strawberry production.
• Increased the awareness of high tunnel production techniques and strawberries to many of our small acreage growers.
Impacts
• Through our statewide field days and consumer preference testing we have increased the knowledge and desire of Texasconsumers for locally-grown strawberries.
• Exposure of the project through the media has increased the awareness of our small acreage growers to the potential for successful strawberry production in many parts of Texas, even in our semi-arid regions.
Impacts
• Our NSSI production guide will benefit Texas by providing a significant resource for producers and for specialists/agent to teach sustainable strawberry production methods.
• Our project has demonstrated the best methodologies whereby strawberry production in Texas can be increased through soil pH modification, heat and salinity tolerance, pest management, planting times, high & low tunnel production, and increased quality.
Impacts
• Through our research and demonstration trials we have taught many growers and provided them with skills, knowledge and the confidence to continue to grow strawberries.
• The Texas Strawberry Project has influenced many stakeholders including growers, consumers, retailers, media, extension horticulturists and Prairie View A&M and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension administration.
National Strawberry Sustainability Initiative
We sincerely appreciate and thank the University of Arkansas for this opportunity and for the funding from the Walmart Foundation!