NEWSLETTER ARTICLES

Warren Bendixen, Strawberries/Soils and Water Farm Advisor

From our Central Coast Agriculture Highlights newsletter -- February 2001 issue:

STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION TRENDS IN 2001

Strawberry acreage in the Santa Maria district in 2001 has decreased to 3,817 acres. This is a 402-acre decrease from 2000. The Santa Maria district represents 15.2% of California’s total acreage. Camarosa continues to be the dominant variety with 2,821 acres, which is 73.9% of the district. Proprietary varieties represent the next highest acreage with 533 acres.

California’s 2001 total acreage is down 1,198 acres from the 26,340 acres in 2000. Camarosa has the largest acreage with 10,931 planted in 2001. This represents 43.5% of the total acreage. For the 5th year, Camarosa has represented an average of 44.5% of the state’s acreage. The Watsonville/Salinas district decreased in acreage by 6.0%. The only area increasing in acreage is the Oxnard area with a 2.5% increase.

CALIFORNIA ACREAGE BY DISTRICT

District	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	Change	% Change
Orange Co./San Diego	2,381	2,820	2,543	2,465	2,446	20 decrease	-0.8%
Oxnard	5,218	5,776	6,692	7,591	7,777	186 increase	+2.5%
Santa Maria	3,763	3,778	3,703	4,218	3,817	402 decrease	-9.5%
Watsonville/Salinas	10,446	11,058	11,108	11,444	10,759	685 decrease	-6.0%
San Joaquin	700	732	557.3	621.5	344	278 decrease	-44.7%
State Total	22,508	24,164	24,603	26,340	25,142	1,198 decrease	-4.5%

STATEWIDE VARIETAL TRENDS

Variety 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Change % change

Camarosa 9,850 11,124 10,956 11,764 10,931 834 decrease - 7.1%

Selva 5,458 5,922 4,127 1,695 321 1,374 decrease - 81.1%

Diamante 999 3,114 5,141 2,027 increase + 65.1%

Aromas 528 1,815 720 1,095 decrease - 60.3%

Chandler 1,065 654 650 695 396 299 decrease - 43.0%

Proprietary 5,452 6,699 6,901 7,385 484 increase + 7.0%

Other 6,135 1,012 644 355 249 106 decrease - 30.0%

State Total 22,508 24,164 24,603 26,339 25,142 1,197 decrease - 4.5%

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Variety	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	Change	% change
Camarosa	9,850	11,124	10,956	11,764	10,931	834 decrease	- 7.1%
Selva	5,458	5,922	4,127	1,695	321	1,374 decrease	- 81.1%
Diamante			999	3,114	5,141	2,027 increase	+ 65.1%
Aromas			528	1,815	720	1,095 decrease	- 60.3%
Chandler	1,065	654	650	695	396	299 decrease	- 43.0%
Proprietary		5,452	6,699	6,901	7,385	484 increase	+ 7.0%
Other	6,135	1,012	644	355	249	106 decrease	- 30.0%
State Total	22,508	24,164	24,603	26,339	25,142	1,197 decrease	- 4.5%