Alert System Helps Strawberry Growers Reduce Costs

In Florida's humid climate, strawberry growers are in a constant battle with two kinds of fruit rot. Using a decision support system, they can save money by spraying fields only when the plant diseases are a threat, saving up to $400 per acre per year. In its first decade, just over half of Florida's strawberry growers adopted the Strawberry Advisory System, reducing fungicide use by 30-50 percent. This system has enabled farmers to grow near-organic strawberries in Florida, satisfying customers’ demand for more natural berries that they was previously unattainable.