Most of the strawberries that are grown in the United States are grown in the southern and coastal areas of California. Strawberries grow best in moderate climates with warm days and low humidity which makes California the perfect place for strawberries. In 2012, over 38,000 acres of strawberries were harvested in California alone. In the same year, farmers averaged 53,000 pounds of strawberries per acre. (Packing, 1)
The first step in strawberry production starts with the soil of the farm. Things such as nutritional content, salts, pH, cation exchange capacity, and organic content all must be tested to ensure proper berry growth. The second step is actually placing the young strawberry plants in the fields. To ensure that the plants are spaced out properly, the plants are hand placed one by one in designated holes that are made by machines on a tractor. Once all of the plants are in the ground, they are irrigated using a drip system. This allows for water to go directly to the root of the plants which helps save water and allow for uniform growth of the plants. (Strawberry, 1)
Due to the fragile nature of the strawberry plant, there are often major amount of added chemicals that are needed to produce the right growing conditions. As a result, there are often negative impacts to use of pesticides and fertilizers. For example, the pH of the soil in which strawberries are grown is often controlled using chemicals that can get into water systems if not controlled correctly. While this problem can be contained, farmers that are not cautious or don’t care can severely impact the surrounding environment.