AGRICULTURAL
Niche market
Strawberries
The brighter the fruit, the sweeter the juice
The versatile strawberry is enjoyed by many worldwide. Whether it’s on a stack of
pancakes, served with cream or even toast and strawberry jam to go, it can quickly turn
into a favourite.
By Mbali Skosana
Senwes Graduate
K
nown for their bright red colour,
juicy texture and sweetness,
strawberries were first cultiva
ted in Rome and are now the
most popular berry fruit in the world. Once
picked, the fruit doesn’t ripen further.
Strawberries are grown in Gauteng,
Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and the
Western Cape in South Africa. However,
it is important to note that it is planted
from February to March in Gauteng and
the Free State. From March to June in
32
SENWES SCENARIO | SUMMER 2018
KwaZulu-Natal and March to May in the
Western Cape. They should be planted
as early as possible during these periods
because the degree of growth prior to win-
ter will determine the production potential.
Planting usually occurs in staggered
double rows with in-row and diagonal
spacing. However, spacing can be diffe
rent, depending on the amount of space
and climate.
Plants shouldn’t be planted too densely
as it will create beneficial conditions for
pests and diseases, which will also affect
the harvesting of the fruit. Planting can
also be done in planting boxes or used
motor vehicle tyres and should be posi-
tioned in a sunny area.
Strawberry production saw an increase
in the 2016/2017 season, with a total of
7,2 thousand metric tons of strawberries
being produced, which was a significant
increase of 8,9% from the previous sea-
son. Strawberries exported from South
Africa are exported to Swaziland, Namibia
and Mozambique.
The Selekta and Chandler varieties are
the popular varieties in South Africa. They
are both suitable for the fresh market. The
Selekta type is long and wedge-shaped,
red in colour, has an attractive glossy
shine and a high sugar content, while the
Chandler type is firm with a distinct straw-
berry aroma and also has a high sugar
content.
According to the South African
Growers’ Association, the strawberries
are packed with vitamins, fibre and high
levels of antioxidants. They are fat-free,
cholesterol-free and low in calories. A
single serving, about eight strawberries,
provides more vitamin C than an orange.
Summer days are for picnics next to
a lake - why not go strawberry picking?
There are various strawberry farms in
South Africa which offer strawberry picking
alongside your picnic basket or a straw-
berry smoothie in their coffee shops.
www.growveg.co.za provides a guide
to growing the best strawberries for
beginners, suitable for home growing in
small batches or larger quantities.