Warmer temperatures, sunny skies jumpstarting weather-delayed strawberry season in the Santa Maria Valley
SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- Recent spring weather which has produced warmer temperatures and drier conditions is providing a jumpstart to the weather-delayed strawberry season in the Santa Maria Valley.
On Wednesday, countless rows of strawberries basked in the warm sun throughout the valley, giving growers just what they need after a wetter than usual winter season.
"This is as good as it gets," said Satellite Farms owner Randy Sharer. "You've got a few whimsical clouds. You're going to hit maybe the high 60's. This is ideal growing season what we're sitting under right now."
With consistent rain over the past several months, the annual traditional start of the strawberry season has been pushed back a few weeks.
"The wet winter we've has delayed production in the Santa Maria Valley by six weeks to two weeks," said Sharer. "The wet weather delayed the harvest. The cool weather delayed the plant growth, delayed the fruit production. The fruit was unmarketable because of fungus and other concerns made it unviable."
While strawberries have been growing in the Santa Maria Valley during the wet winter months, the rain along with cold temperatures, has prevented local farmers from harvesting in large quantities usually seen by this time.
"We've been struggling with this weather," said West Coast Berry Farms general manager Tim Driscoll. "The fruit is starting to come and we've been waiting for a while and it's been very slow because obviously the rain and that type of thing, but I think all the growers are finally happy to see the sun and see the crops that are starting to follow."
However, over the past several days, the rain has given way to sunnier weather, as well as slightly warmer temperatures, which is bringing better growing conditions for strawberries.
"Just this week guys have gotten into really serious picking and we'll go from zero to 60 in about two weeks," said Sharer. "We'll be pulling in hundreds of thousands of units a week because the crops are ready. The folks are sure ready to get out there and get to work and the market is eager for fresh Santa Maria strawberries."
While the winter rain was a welcome sight, farmers need more days like Wednesday to help grow their crops, which have had to not only endure many days of wet weather, but also prolonged cold temperatures.
"This is a crucial component," said Sharer. "Without these sunny spring days, we do not have a strawberry crop in the Santa Maria Valley. We've had sufficient rainfall this year. We've got enough carry over that our basin will be adequately supplied for the near future, so now it's time to get back into production and to get back into what we do best, which is feeding people around the world with our produce."
For Santa Barbara County, strawberries are a vital component of the economy. According to the county's last annual agricultural report, strawberries were by far and away the number one crop, with a value of nearly $850 million in 2021.
Even during the wet winter, some varieties of strawberries were being grown in the Santa Maria Valley, but in far fewer quantities than in typical years.
By this time, the strawberry season is already several weeks old, with large daily harvests and open strawberry stands around Santa Maria and Orcutt.
Now, with better growing conditions arriving, it will soon begin to resemble a normal around local fields.
"You'll see it right now and it's a little bit slow, but in the space of a couple of weeks, that's going to jump and you'll see a lot more fruit on the marketplace, and a lot more fruit in the fields, and a lot more people working, and getting back into the economy of our city," said Driscoll. "It's all starting to hit its cycle and once it hits its cycle, you start seeing more color in the fields, and that means more fruit, and everything just tumbles right ahead of that all the way. Everybody starts getting more fruit on the table and nutrition for the kids and it's just wonderful how it all cycles."
With a delayed start to the season, growers are hoping demand has been building with consumers, which will potentially lead to a successful year.
"The market nationwide has been surviving on Central Mexico, Baja, and Florida strawberries," said Sharer. "They are at the end of their season and the market is eager for the arrival of fresh California strawberries, specifically the Santa Maria Valley strawberries."
"As the market comes up, and our production gets up, that will bring everything," said Driscoll. "It will be interesting to see when we get that kick. Now we're going to be in a short season because we've been waiting for so long, but I think by and large we're going to get through this season and I think we'll do well."
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