New Florida strawberry breeds more resilient to flooding

State of play: University of Florida professor and fourth-generation strawberry breeder Vance Whitaker began the breeding effort in 2020 to combat a vicious strain of a once-benign fungus that causes root rot.

• Whitaker's Ember and Encore varieties now cover about 10% of the 14,000 acres growing across the state. 

Zoom in: Whitaker works out of UF's Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Hillsborough County, where much of Florida's strawberry industry is concentrated. 

• That means he's able to test breeds in the same conditions that growers face. 
• He also saw how the hurricanes impacted the crop: the deluge of rain flooded some beds and washed out others. And with more moisture comes a higher risk of waterborne diseases.

What he's saying: "The farmers have a really tough job. They have to provide consistent quality of fruit, whether it froze yesterday or rained or was 85 degrees," Whitaker told Axios.

• "That's the importance of breeding varieties that maintain their quality."

What's next: Weather conditions for the harvesting season look promising, he said, which is good news for strawberry lovers.