2014 National Sustainable Strawberry Initiative Project Leader Meeting

1. 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

2. 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’.

3. 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

4. Texas Strawberry Project (multi-disciplinary)
Texas A&M AgriLife
Research & Extension
12 Specialists
4 Research Scientists
2 Student Workers
2 Graduate Students
Growers
5 Current
11 New
Prairie View A&M
1 Extension Director
1 Research Scientist
2 Student Workers
Industry
1 Plug Producer
Total Participants
41

5. Outputs

6. Meetings & Conferences
1st Annual Texas High Tunnel Conference
Texas Strawberry
Project Team Meeting

7. Demonstration & Research Trials

8. 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

9. Statewide Field Days & Tours

10. www.facebook.com/texasstrawberryproject

11. Consumer Preferences (Tasting & Purchasing)

12. DVD Documentary & Production Guide

13. Media Exposure
Texas A&M AgriLife Communications
Facebook
TV
Radio
Online News
Newspaper
Press Releases

14. Major Outcomes: Stakeholders
No. 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

15. Impacts
• Significantly increased the awareness of
sustainable strawberry production in the state
through both social and professional media.
• Successfully introduced Texas A&M AgriLife
and 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.

16. Impacts
• Through our statewide field days and
consumer preference testing we have
increased the knowledge and desire of Texas
consumers 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. National Strawberry Sustainability Initiative
We sincerely appreciate and thank the University of Arkansas for this
opportunity and for the funding from the Walmart Foundation!