FSREF

Florida Strawberry Research and Education Foundation

About one-third of the FSGA/FSPS (Florida Strawberry Patent Service, a sister organization to FSGA) revenue is targeted for research. Since inception, the Association has made contributions for IFAS research approaching $2.5 million dollars. In addition, FSGA has coordinated and leveraged legislative and community support, doubling the Dover Research Center’s budget and faculty.

The Association is currently spear heading a project that will help improve our breeding program. We have agreed to fully fund a new plant pathologist to help make available clean plant material for the future of our industry.

Agritourism holds promise for us

This opportunity was a direct spin off of our success in obtaining funding for the new IFAS Research and Education Center in Balm. This state-of-the-art facility allowed IFAS administrators to close the Dover Research Center. As there was a reversion clause which returned the Dover Research Center to the County of Hillsborough when no longer used for research or education, we formed the Florida Strawberry Research and Education Foundation, and received ownership of the facility from the county.

Our intention is to build a Florida Strawberry Education Center on the site and funnel proceeds to strawberry research. FSREF is envied throughout the state for the quality of its youth program. Before the program was transferred from FSGA to FSREF, the Association presented over 216 scholarships the first two decades of its existence.

FSREF presented 4 general scholarships for $750 each, six endowed scholarships for $1000 each and four Strawberry Ambassador Awards of $1000 each just this last year. Many of our early recipients have gone on to become leaders in Florida agriculture.

For more information

For more information behind the science of strawberries, you can contact the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center at 813-634-0000, or visit their website at http://strawberry.ifas.ufl.edu. You may also visit the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center at http://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/ or for gardening questions contact your local extension office. In Hillsborough County the number is 813-744-5519.