Organic Strawberry Production in Tennessee, USA, and Areas of Comparable Climate in China

Abstract

Strawberry production and consumption is experiencing significant growth. Production in the USA has doubled since the 1990s. As the domestic demand increases, there is potential to expand production beyond California and Florida into other regions of the country. In the 1950s, strawberries accounted for 25.3 % of the total marketable value of all fruits and vegetables produced in Tennessee, before declining in the 1970s. Acreage in the last 2 decades has been on a slow upward trend. Several counties throughout Tennessee are well suited for the growing of high-quality and high-value strawberries. Efforts are being made to promote production and consumption of organic and naturally grown local strawberries in Tennessee. Strawberry production in parts of China that have a similar climate has also seen considerable growth. Hebei, Shandong, Anhui, and Liaoning are among the largest strawberry producing provinces in the country. In 2014, over 50,000 acres of strawberries were planted in Anhui Province, accounting for over 15 % of all strawberries grown in China. This chapter discusses the production systems, cultural practices including nutrient management, the selection of cover crops, integrated pest management, and weed and disease control in strawberry production in Tennessee and China. Harvesting and postharvesting protocols, marketing channels, safety concerns, current constraints, and future potentials of organic strawberry production are also discussed.