A record 8.16m tonne (1.8bn pound) Californian strawberry yield is predicted by the end of the year, the second new record in a row and the latest in a decade of increasing output.
The strawberry boom is attributed to more acreage, higher yield and growing consumer demand for the fruit, according to The Packer.
Carolyn O’Donnell, a spokeswoman for the California Strawberry Commission, said consumption of strawberries was steadily rising with younger demographics.
“The demand is there,” she said. “Our consumer research is showing that more people are eating more strawberries.”
“People are more health conscious, strawberries are easy and portable and kids like them – kids over five named strawberries their favourite fruit.”
Land under strawberries rose from around 14,200ha in 2007 to 14,600ha this year, and the yield beat last year’s record of 7.71m tonnes (1.7bn pounds).
Californian strawberry production has risen every year for the last decade with the exception of 2001.
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