Recent News
Center pathology team presents at annual APS meeting
Aug 22, 2023
Three members of our pathology team presented at the annual meeting of the American Phytopathological Society held on August 12-16 in Denver, Colorado.
✓ Cooper Calvin (MS student) presented a poster on 'Emerging diseases and abiotic disorders in California strawberries'; Delivered an update on Neopestalotiopsis rosae pathogenicity tests in the Small Fruit Disease Worker's Discussion; And competed in the quiz Diagnostic Bowl event (go Cooper!).
✓ Joseph Ramirez (incoming MS student) delivered a short presentation on Macrophomina and Verticillium cultivar trials in the Small Fruit Disease Worker's Discussion.
✓ Dr. Shashika Hewavitharana (pathology team leader) presented on 'The effect of wheat cover crop on charcoal rot in strawberry' on behalf of Cal Poly alum Mary Steele; She also moderated the 'Soilborne Disease Management' technical session.
Cal Poly Strawberry Center alum Dr. Scott Cosseboom, currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Maryland, presented a poster on 'Validation of two disease prediction models in Maryland wine grape vineyards for ripe rot caused by Colletotrichum spp.'. Alum Jack Koster, now a lecturer in the Biology & Chemistry Department at CSU-Monterey Bay, also attended along with six students from his department, all presenting posters.
Check out our Field Day 2023 recap video
Aug 18, 2023
Thank you to the California Strawberry Commission marketing team for producing another Field Day Recap video for this year's event. Take a peek for a visual tasting of the many educational and informative activities that occurred at Field Day 2023!
Watch video on YouTube
Which of the four main soilborne pathogens are most common in CA strawberry?
Aug 11, 2023
It’s widely accepted that there are four major diseases in California strawberry caused by these soilborne pathogens:
✔ Macrophomina root rot
✔ Fusarium wilt
✔ Verticillium wilt
✔ Phytophthora crown and root rot
❓What we did not know is which of these four pathogens are most common?
Learn more in our latest research blog post, authored by recent graduate Mary Steele, M.S., Cal Poly 2023.
https://strawberrycenterblog.com/2023/08/09/soilborne-pathogens-common-strawberry-fields-part-1/
Field Day 2023 a huge success!
Aug 10, 2023
Strawberry Center 7th Annual Field Day
Thursday • August 3, 2023
Over 430 strawberry growers, researchers and industry representatives gathered at the Strawberry Center for this year’s Field Day. Participants rotated through Automation, Entomology and Plant Pathology stations, hearing from Cal Poly students and scientists about the latest research taking place at the Strawberry Center. Topics ranged from the newest automation technology to predatory mites to soilborne pathogens of strawberry, and much more!
Field Day 2023 program booklet, handouts and sponsor fliers can be found on our Center website @ https://strawberry.calpoly.edu/field-day-2023-information-and-handouts
A BIG thank you to our Sponsors and In-Kind Donors! A special mention goes to Yara and Good Farms for sponsoring a delicious lunch, catered by Taco Man Express.
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Center hosts tour for government relations specialists
Jul 18, 2023
The Strawberry Center recently hosted a group of government relations specialists from various campuses throughout the Cal State University system. Justin Wellner (Director of Government and Community Relations at Cal Poly) highlighted recent collaborative efforts between the Strawberry Center and the USDA.
Congratulations to our graduates!
Jul 14, 2023
Congratulations to our amazing student employees and Master students who officially graduated this past June! We couldn't be more proud of your hard work, dedication, and achievements.
We are so thankful that you could be a part of our team. Your contributions, creativity and drive has made us all very proud.
We wish you all the best in your endeavors, Class of 2023!
KCBX News Center reports on $1M USDA funding
Jul 12, 2023
Listen in as KCBX News Center discusses $1M USDA funding to help automate strawberry farming in California to assist labor.
KCBX-FM | NPR
July 5, 2023
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Strawberry Center and the United States Department of Agriculture’s research agency recently received a federal grant to focus on tools to help automate strawberry farming in California. The Strawberry Center’s goal is to use research and education to increase the sustainability of California’s strawberry industry.
Read/Listen to full story https://tinyurl.com/kcbx-2023
Only FOUR weeks away! Register now for Cal Poly Strawberry Center Field Day
Jul 7, 2023
Only FOUR weeks away!
Join more than 400 strawberry growers, researchers and industry representatives for this year’s Strawberry Center Field Day. Participants will rotate through stations, hearing from Cal Poly students and staff about the latest research taking place at the Strawberry Center. Topics include the newest automation technology, predatory mites, soil-borne pathogens of strawberry and much more! We look forward to sharing the Center's latest research and happenings. Learn more about the seventh annual field day.
Sponsorship Opportunities are Still Available, until WEDNESDAY July 19
We are excited to partner with your company to create our most successful Field Day yet. Information about sponsorship opportunities is available online @ https://strawberry.calpoly.edu/field-day-2023-sponsorship-opportunities
City Farm SLO's 2023 Youth Empowerment Program students tour Center
Jun 29, 2023
Center team members Lawson Orradre, Colette Smith and Kiley Jensen hosted 12 high school-age students for a tour of our facilities. The students are participating in the City Farm SLO's 2023 Youth Empowerment Program, which provides exceptional leadership development opportunities to teens of all backgrounds through career/college readiness workshops and technical instruction in regenerative agriculture. https://www.cityfarmslo.org/yep
The students were able to explore the fields and hoop houses, visit the entomology lab, and pack their own strawberry clamshells! A huge thank you to City Farm SLO for allowing us to host this tour. We always love the opportunity to educate the younger generation about the strawberry industry.
Strawberry Center and USDA ARS Receive $1M in Federal Funding
Jun 27, 2023
Cal Poly Strawberry Center and U.S. Department of Agriculture Research Service Receive $1M in Federal Funding to Focus Efforts on Automation Advancements in the Field
[Cal Poly News, Press Release]
SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Cal Poly Strawberry Center, in collaboration with the California Strawberry Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS) in Salinas, California, was awarded $1 million in federal funding to expand its research in strawberry automation leading to enhanced sustainable farming practices, including workforce development.
Read full article @ https://tinyurl.com/CPSC-USDA-funding
