Strawberry in South America: from the Caribbean to Patagonia
Across a vast continent, strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) are produced and consumed in virtually all the South American (SA) countries, from the Caribbean (Venezuela) to the Patagonia region (Argentina and Chile). Except for the Guyanas, in all SA countries the strawberry industry has strong links with cultural, economic and social aspects.
As a whole, South America grows approximately 13200 ha and produces about 350400 t of strawberry, which in some countries are available year round (Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela) due to climatic diversity.
In other countries, strawberry production occurs predominantly from spring to autumn (Chile and Peru) or from winter to spring (Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay). Production volumes vary considerably among countries.
Brazil and Chile are the major strawberry producers, with 120000 and 56300 t, respectively.
Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela are within the same range of cultivated area as Chile, but their productions are lower: 45500, 42500, 15000, 22000 and 27600 t, respectively, due to technological issues.
Smaller productions can be found in Uruguay (6250 t), Bolivia (4250 t) and Paraguay (3500 t). Most of the fruit are marketed in domestic or regional markets, with a variable portion going for processing (locally or exported). Regarding to the genetic of the planting material used in South America, University of California (UC) cultivars dominate the varietal spectrum.
Kirschbaum, D.S., Vicente, C.E., Cano-Torres, M.A., Gambardella, M., Veizaga-Pinto, F.K. and Antunes, L.E.C. (2017). Strawberry in South America: from the Caribbean to Patagonia. Acta Hortic. 1156, 947-956
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1156.140
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1156.140
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1156.140
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1156.140
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, berries, pests and diseases, ancient crops, production technology
English
1156_140
947-956
- Commission Agroecology and Organic Farming Systems
- Working Group Strawberry Culture and Management
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Plant Genetic Resources and Biotechnology
- Division Physiology and Plant-Environment Interactions of Horticultural Crops in Field Systems
- Division Protected Cultivation and Soilless Culture