STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION TRENDS IN 2002
Local strawberry growers have planted 16.6% more strawberries for the 2002 season than in 2001. These 4,450 strawberry acres are the largest acreage since 1996 when there were 5,063 acres. In 2001 there were 3,817 acres.
The acreage in the Santa Maria District represents over 16% of the state acreage this year compared to 14% last year. The Watsonville/Salinas District is the largest district with 11,300 acres. All of the districts increased in acreage except the San Joaquin area.
California is the largest producer of strawberries with the total state acreage in 2002 at 27,180 acres compared to 25,142 in 2001, and 22,508 acres in 1997. The state produces 83% of the strawberries grown in the United States.
Camarosa continues to be the dominant variety in the Santa Maria District with 2,824 acres, which is 63.5% of the district acreage. Diamante is the second largest acreage with 943 acres. Proprietary varieties are the third highest acreage with 610 acres.
Camarosa still dominates California acreage with 39.9% of the state’s acreage, followed by proprietary varieties with 29.7% of the acres.
CALIFORNIA ACREAGE BY DISTRICT
| District | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | Acreage Change |
| Orange Co./San Diego | 2,495 | 2,381 | 2,820 | 2,543 | 2,465 | 2,446 | 2,539 | 93 increase |
| Oxnard | 5,100 | 5,218 | 5,776 | 6,692 | 7,591 | 7,777 | 8,582 | 805 increase |
| Santa Maria | 5,063 | 3,763 | 3,778 | 3,703 | 4,218 | 3,817 | 4,450 | 633 increase |
| Watsonville/Salinas | 11,712 | 10,446 | 11,058 | 11,108 | 11,444 | 10,759 | 11,300 | 541 increase |
| San Joaquin | 875 | 700 | 732 | 557 | 622 | 344 | 309 | 35 decrease |
| State Total | 25,245 | 22,508 | 24,164 | 24,603 | 26,340 | 25,142 | 27,180 | 2,037 increase |
STATEWIDE VARIETAL TRENDS
| Variety | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | Acreage Change |
| Camarosa | 6,102 | 9,850 | 11,124 | 10,956 | 11,764 | 10,931 | 10,835 | 96 decrease |
| Salva | 6,794 | 5,458 | 5,922 | 4,127 | 1,695 | 321 | 342 | 21 increase |
| Diamante | -- | -- | -- | 999 | 3,114 | 5,141 | 6,408 | 1,267 increase |
| Aromas | -- | -- | -- | 528 | 1,815 | 720 | 667 | 53 decrease |
| Chandler | 5,438 | 1,065 | 654 | 650 | 695 | 396 | 343 | 53 decrease |
| Proprietary | -- | -- | 5,452 | 6,699 | 6,901 | 7,385 | 8,068 | 683 increase |
| Other | 6,911 | 6,135 | 1,012 | 644 | 355 | 249 | 517 | 268 increase |
| State Total | 25,245 | 22,508 | 24,164 | 24,603 | 26,339 | 25,142 | 27,180 | 2,037 increase |
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