“ ”
The True Heart of a
Strawberry By: Jared Lanier, Florida Farm Bureau Federation
W
hat’s small and red and bursts with juicy flavor? A Florida strawberry---of course. This tasty red berry is extremely versatile and can be eaten in a number of different ways—in jams, smoothies, salads, wine, desserts and fresh off the vine. It’s essential to your grandma’s strawberry shortcake recipe and who doesn’t crave a chocolate-dipped strawberry on occasion?
The red berry spans more than 9,000 acres across Florida, making the Sunshine State the second largest strawberry producer in the U.S. (California is first). Hillsborough County alone produces 15 percent of the nation’s strawberries and has been recognized as the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World. The county is also home to the world-renown Florida Strawberry Festival. The strawberry is one of the healthiest and The heart shape is indicative of the with Vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants, cancer and heart disease. The calories, making it an excellent less than 50 calories. When selecting your local grocery, look for baskets and a sweet aroma. You also buying Florida strawberries to late March. Buying local that our county remains the the World.”
most nutritious fruits on the market. fruit’s health benefits. It’s packed which provide protection against little berry is also low in family snack. One cup has
strawberries at your with glossy red color want to make sure you are during season--late November strawberries will help ensure “Winter Strawberry Capital of
There are more than 100 Florida farmers statewide and most are centered around Plant City. The town produces more than 20 million flats each year. That’s enough flats to extend from Plant City to Seattle and back again. One of those Florida farmers is Steve Mathis of Mathis Farms in Plant City. Mathis does his part in ensuring that consumers have juicy, tasty and safe strawberries to eat. Mathis is one of ten farms in the Hillsborough area who have been recognized by the County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) program.
Established 14 years ago, the CARES program was founded by Florida Farm Bureau as a way to thank farmers who go above and beyond taking care of the land they farm. Its mission is to promote environmentally sound farming practices while educating the public on agriculture’s role in protecting Florida’s natural resources. Mathis has been farming in Plant City since he was a young boy and started his journey into strawberries thirty years ago.
Mathis has been implementing BMPs (Best Management Practices) since the late 1980s. Farmers have used overhead irrigation for many decades. Since then, many farmers have gone to drip irrigation, which is a more sustainable and efficient way of irrigating strawberries. The drip irrigation method allows water to drip slowly to the roots of the plant as opposed to the overhead irrigation, which is more comparable to an overhead sprinkler. Mathis conserves more than 17,000 gallons per acre each day that he uses drip irrigation. With an average American using more than 100 gallons of water a day, these savings are enough to supply water for one person for nearly half a year.
Being on the forefront of agriculture is important to Mathis and the way he manages his farm. “Agriculture is an ever-changing field and has many challenges but that is the fun part to me,” Mathis stated.
The next time you are shopping at your local grocery store for delicious red berries for that favorite recipe, you will now know a little more about local Florida strawberry farmers who CARE. Visit thisfarmcares.org to meet other farmers who CARE for our natural resources.