Strawberry Culture and Management

Strawberry production is a major agricultural industry worldwide, with key producers including the United States, Mexico, Spain, China, and Turkey. Spain is particularly important in European production, while Turkey serves both domestic and export markets. Many other countries also engage in strawberry cultivation, benefiting from the opportunities it provides for job creation, income generation, and rural development. Global strawberry production has been on the rise, driven by strong demand for fresh, frozen, and processed products, as well as advancements in breeding materials, cultivation techniques, and fruit quality control systems.

The Working Group Strawberry Culture and Management operates under Division Vine and Berry Fruits. This Working Group was formed to address all aspects of strawberry production and management.

The Working Group’s activities are aimed at studying and developing knowledge and technical skills on the genetic resources of the Fragaria genus, on traditional and advanced breeding techniques and new biotechnologies aimed at obtaining new resilient varieties with high sensory and nutritional quality; on the knowledge of plant physiology to improve propagation techniques and different cultivation systems with high economic and environmental sustainability and quality for the consumer; and on the characteristics of the sensory and nutritional quality of the fruit at harvest and postharvest.

The main activity of the Working Group is the organization of the International Strawberry Symposia. The main purpose of the symposia is to bring together academics, researchers, extension agents and experts from the industry for discussions and ‘fruitful’ collaborations. Additionally, this Working Group remains active in other initiatives of international interest, such as in the participation in the Berry Symposia planned every four years at the International Horticultural Congress and the European Horticultural Congress. In addition, the Working Group interacts with other ISHS Working Groups on matters pertaining to Working Group objectives.

We encourage all those involved in strawberry research to join and become actively involved in this Working Group.