We are excited to announce that Strawberry Field Day 2026 will be held on Thursday, July 23rd at 7:30 a.m. Each year, this event brings together more than 600 strawberry growers, researchers, and industry partners for a day of research updates in entomology and pathology and new automation technology, along with opportunities for high-impact networking.

Planning for Field Day is underway, and we’re looking forward to building on last year’s momentum to make this one our best yet. Sponsorship opportunities are now available, so please check our sponsorship webpage for details, or reach out to Colette Smith at csmit250@calpoly.edu with any questions. Registration for the event will open in May!

A Decade of Strawberry Field Day

This year marks the tenth anniversary of Field Day, which feels like a good moment to look back at how much this event has grown and how much attendance it’s had. Since 2017, we’ve gone from about 200 attendees to more than 600, and from 20 sponsors to over 50. The program itself has expanded as well, growing from 3 stops and less than 10 topics, to 5 stops covering more than 20 topics.

Last year, we made a significant change in how the stops were organized. With the addition of a new field, we were able to move our automation demonstrations out of the parking lot and into the field, making field stops more engaging while also adding a new stop to the program. This created a dedicated space for sponsor exhibitions, networking and product updates. This shift in structure was very well-recieved and will continue to be implemented in future years.

At its core, Field Day is an educational event designed to showcase current research from the Strawberry Center, the California Strawberry Commission and other research and industry partners. It’s a chance to discuss new research, connect with colleagues, and keep strengthening the relationships that drive this industry forward. For those interested in our past field days, our website includes archived materials like program booklets, individual research handouts and sponsoring companies.

We look forward to welcoming you on July 23rd for another amazing Field Day!