CRBC News
Politics
Conflict
Security
Economy
Science
Technology
Environment
Health
Culture
Society
Lifestyle
Lifestyle

Florida Strawberries Are In Season — Is Now the Best Time to Buy?

05:37 PM, 12/04/2025
Florida Strawberries Are In Season — Is Now the Best Time to Buy?

Florida's strawberry season is underway, with harvesting across about 16,000 acres in Hillsborough, Manatee and Polk counties from early December through late March. UF/IFAS-developed varieties represent roughly 88% of plantings, and newer cultivars Ember and Encore have rapidly expanded to cover more than half of state acreage. Pineberries — a white, pineapple-scented specialty — are grown on about 325 acres but remain a niche item. Shoppers should look for "Grown in Florida" labels or ask produce managers for variety details.

Florida Strawberries Hit The Market

Florida strawberries are arriving in stores as harvesting is underway across roughly 16,000 acres in Hillsborough, Manatee and Polk counties. Growers began picking in early December and expect the season to continue through the end of March, supporting an industry valued at about $500 million for the state.

Season Outlook

The strawberry season in Florida runs from December through March. Industry experts say this year’s crop is off to a strong start, with plentiful fruit expected on the market during the peak months.

New Varieties Driving Adoption

Vance Whitaker, a professor of horticultural sciences and strawberry breeder at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), notes:

"Fruit is now starting to be harvested, and there should be plenty on the market."

Approximately 88% of the strawberry varieties planted in Florida were developed by UF/IFAS researchers. Two recently commercialized cultivars — Ember and Encore — have seen rapid adoption. Ember accounted for about 8% of planted acreage last year and Encore roughly 5%, but this season those shares have risen to about 35% and 18%, respectively, together covering more than half of Florida’s strawberry fields.

Whitaker says these varieties produce vigorous plants that support strong early yields, improved flavor and longer shelf life. They also show better disease resistance compared with older cultivars, which can make them more sustainable for growers.

Other Varieties And Innovations

The third most widely planted variety remains Florida Brilliance, occupying about 27% of the state's fields. UF/IFAS’s strawberry breeding program has been active since 1948 and has released dozens of cultivars now grown in other regions around the world.

A notable niche product is the pineberry — a mostly white strawberry with a pineapple-like aroma. Developed by UF/IFAS researchers roughly five years ago, pineberries are now cultivated on about 325 acres in Florida and will again appear in stores that carry Florida strawberries, though many shoppers are still unfamiliar with them.

Tips For Shoppers

Retail packages rarely list the specific strawberry variety. Shoppers who prefer Florida-grown fruit or want information about specific cultivars should look for labels that say "Grown in Florida" or ask produce managers at their local stores.

This story was reported by Dave Osborn (dosborn@usatodayco.com) with assistance from artificial intelligence; journalists were involved at every step of reporting, review and editing. Originally appeared on Naples Daily News.

Similar Articles

Trending