The Strawberry Center launched a new summer internship program this year, giving students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in both applied research and commercial berry production through partnerships within the industry.

The program’s first cohort was made up of three current Center student assistants: Shaelyn Spencer, Jorge Millan Rodriguez and Emiliano Gomez. All are Pant Sciences majors entering their 4th year at Cal Poly. Structured as a split appointment, the program divided student work between the Center and industry partners. Spencer and Jorge spent the summer with Betteravia Farms, while Emiliano worked alongside PCA Randy Widerburg (Agricultural Grower Services). Below, you’ll find each student’s reflection on their internship experiences.

“At Betteravia Farms, I gained hands-on experience across strawberries, cane berries and blueberries, building a broad perspective of all aspects of production. I joined during summer planting, where I created nursery maps in ArcGIS and monitored plant establishment through die-out counts…I shadowed ranch managers, quality assurance and the cooling house, giving me a deeper understanding of the many factors that go into producing high-quality berries. I also presented weekly internship updates at marketing meetings, allowing me to gain valuable exposure to the economic considerations that guide production decisions. Continuing my production role at the Cal Poly Strawberry Center, I helped in numerous data collections on research projects spanning from cultural to chemical trials. A highlight was serving as a group leader at our annual Field Day, engaging with growers and industry partners about new innovations in strawberry production. I also assisted in preparing the ground for the upcoming bed-up and planting. As I enter my senior year at Cal Poly, I’m grateful for the mentorship, technical skills, and professional insights these experiences provided. They’ve not only deepened my knowledge of crop production but also reinforced my excitement for a career in plant sciences upon graduation.“ – Shaelyn Spencer

“A major part of my work involved regularly collecting and analyzing soil and tissue samples across all berries to diagnose abiotic and biotic stresses, monitor soil EC levels, and strengthen irrigation programs. Scouting fields for pests reinforced the importance of consistent monitoring and taught me valuable lessons in IPM and its connection to fertility and overall plant health. Beyond technical skills, this internship gave me the chance to collaborate with a wide range of team members, from harvesters and ranch managers to quality assurance personnel, cooling house managers, and PCAs. Weekly team meetings also helped me grow my digital and interpersonal communication skills, especially when presenting technical projects and data. At the Strawberry Center, I continued supporting data collection and analysis for ongoing research projects, including my own trial. My project focused on evaluating the effects of bioinoculant products on strawberry yield and plant vigor, and I look forward to sharing the results soon. Additionally, I gained valuable experience in the intensive planning and execution of bed-up operation. This experience allowed me to refine my foundational skills at the commercial scale while also expanding my knowledge through extensive projects.“ – Jorge Millan Rodriguez

“Shadowing Randy gave me firsthand exposure to PCA work, where I walked fields to monitor pest and disease populations, prepared weekly scouting reports, and analyzed pesticide use data on Agrian to connect field observations with grower practices. This experience helped me strengthen my ability to identify issues in real time, think critically about biological control dynamics, and understand how cultural practices impact crop health. Working alongside Randy on a daily basis gave me valuable one-on-one mentorship, allowing me to participate in decision-making discussions and gain a deeper appreciation for the responsibilities and pressures PCAs face when balancing grower expectations and sustainable production goals. My work [at the Strawberry Center] involved culturing plant pathogens, processing and plating strawberry plants for disease diagnostics, and helping with the setup, monitoring, and maintenance of experimental plots. I worked collaboratively with faculty, graduate students, and field crews to set up and monitor experiments while also assisting with irrigation repairs and operating ranch equipment needed within strawberry production. This dual experience gave me a well-rounded view of strawberry production.“ – Emiliano Gomez

A huge thank you goes out to Betteravia Farms and PCA Randy Widerburg for collaborating with us, as well as Field Research Manager Kyle Blauer who spearheaded the new program. We look forward to expanding it in future years and continuing to create meaningful opportunities for students while also providing support to the strawberry industry.