Funding of euro63,000 has been forthcoming from the regional executive in Andalucia and El Monte for a research project being carried out by the University of Huelva with collaboration from strawberry growers' association Freshuelva.
The aim of the study is to reduce the instance of misshapen strawberries. This phenomenon affects early fruit particularly and can mean that up to 30 per cent of the most lucrative volumes of the crop are unsaleable for purely aesthetic reasons. The problem has been hard to address in the past as it is the result of several factors.
Huelva scientists hope to reduce the percentage of affected fruit to 15 per cent and are looking at developing better pollination, the role of insects in the process and the 'combination of different growing techniques'.
The team expects to have some early results within a few months although necessary trials will delay the commercial application of any findings for a further two years.
Another aim of the study is to develop a good agricultural practices manual. The agriculture department at the regional executive would support this initiative and the application of any research results on misshapes with its technical team.
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