Figure 1. Lygus bug discussion focused on management issues held in Santa Maria on Nov 1, 2022. (Photo by Miriam Mendez) A small round table meeting was hosted by the California Strawberry Commission (CSC) in Santa Maria to help mediate a discussion on concerns of high lygus bug populations (Fig. 1). Both Cal Poly Strawberry … Continue reading Grower/PCA Round Table: Santa Maria Lygus Bug discussion summary
Automation
An Automated Harvesting Update: Harvest CROO Robotics, Traptic, and Advanced Farms
Harvest costs represent over 70% of operating costs/acre to produce strawberries in California (UC Davis Cost Study, 2021). With the passing of SB-3 minimum wage increase requirements in 2016, the California Strawberry Commission has recognized labor-saving automation as the industry's leading research priority. By 2018, there were three companies pursuing automated harvesting in California: Harvest … Continue reading An Automated Harvesting Update: Harvest CROO Robotics, Traptic, and Advanced Farms