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UC strawberries go to the Olympics
California strawberries are making their debut in China during the Beijing Olympics. Watsonville-based California Giant Berry Farms and Driscoll’s were both selected to ship fresh strawberries to China for the Olympic Games
California Giant grows the Albion variety, which was developed at the UC Davis Watsonville Strawberry Research Facility.
The deep red berry with its sweet aroma and flavor has become extremely popular since it was commercially introduced in 2006.
California strawberries are normally banned, but China made arrangements to temporarily allow the strawberries after Olympic athletes listed strawberries as the No. 3 fruit they would like to eat during the Summer Games, according to an Aug. 6 story in the San Jose Mercury News.
Eurosemillas, SA, the Spanish company that holds the master licensee responsibilities for UC strawberry cultivars in most countries including China, facilitated the deal, according to Doug Shaw, UC Davis strawberry breeder. “These people really know how to get things done, and should be recognized for their contribution to UC,” Shaw said in an e-mail.
UC’s Strawberry Licensing program started in California in 1978 and internationally in 1982. UC has patented 33 strawberry cultivars including Albion. Worldwide, UC varieties account for 50 percent to 60 percent of strawberry production
Watsonville Strawberry Research Facility
