NJAES strawberry variety trial at Rutgers Snyder farm
Strawberries from California and Florida can typically be found in supermarkets throughout the year, but Jersey Fresh strawberries only make a brief appearance in the spring. New Jersey’s strawberry season is now–late May to mid-June. Pick-Your-Own farms can be found throughout the state and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture provides tips on selecting the best berries and keeping them fresh.
Not many people realize that strawberries are native to New Jersey. The wild strawberries that once were found throughout the state were small, seedy and not as sweet as today’s modern varieties. While many New Jersey farms are currently growing Chandler strawberry, a California variety, Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) is currently testing several new strawberry varieties on New Jersey farms. These varieties developed at NJAES offer great flavor and perform well in New Jersey’s climate.
The video below provides a look at what is involved in Rutgers NJAES strawberry breeding research. Read more about the history of the Jersey strawberry and the new strawberry varieties and view photos of the NJAES strawberry breeding project.
