As strawberry harvesting season is currently underway in Florida, yields have been strong, thanks to good weather and ideal temperatures. This is welcomed news for growers who, despite labor issues, are trying to increase their productivity for both organic and conventional strawberries. Several new strawberry varieties are promising for consumer demand, including white strawberries which have become more recognizable in the marketplace this year.

Florida growers have a ways to go before becoming more competitive with produce giants California and Mexico, but automation future technology and new varieties can help narrow the gap. According to USDA, roughly 90% of U.S. strawberry production is sourced from California, while only 8% is from Florida.

Read more on Florida strawberry production here.