Strawberries

• Improve the quality and quantity of protected strawberries produced on farm

• Identify possible yield limiting factors and raise the yield of strawberry achieved by one grower to ADAS target for their plant material type (200-250g/plant for A+ plant material)
• Increase the percentage of Grade 1 fruit

• Current value of protected fruit in NI is estimated at £150,000.
• Current yields are below European level. By developing growers' competencies in this area there will be a durable impact which can also be transferred to develop the competence of other growers. This will enhance the chances of sustaining the continuity of supply required by multiple outlets and enhance market opportunities for N.I. growers.

• Best practice protocol is available to the grower.
• Growers practice is continuously monitored through the crop life. Assessments of plant quality, irrigation levels, feed levels are monitored and grower continuously involved in assessment process. Areas for improvement are identified.

• Growers awareness of factors affecting plant quality are improved, and competence developed
• Continuity of supply of high quality fruit to meet supermarket standards for supply contracts
• A 10% improvement in yield from all NI strawberry growers is currently worth £15000 at farm gate price

• To determine optimum plant material type and date of planting for NI protected strawberry growers

• Verification of the economic return from the use of tray plant material compared to waiting bed plants under NI conditions and the optimum planting date.

• Current value of protected fruit in NI is estimated at £150,000
• European trend is towards the use of tray plants. Tray plants are reported to yield 10-16% more fruit than waiting bed plants per m2.
• Tray plants cost 10p per plant more than waiting bed plants representing an extra £1000/ha in establishment costs.

• Evaluation of data from Greenmount trial is required to establish the performance of tray plants and the optimum planting date. Until this is established there is no system for transfer

• Trial assessing 2 plant types, three planting dates (3 blocks) for 1997/98 season. Final harvest from this crop will be made in summer 1998.
• To be followed by trial assessing three plant types, and three planting dates established July 1998, with harvests in 1998 and summer 1999

• A 10 % increase in yield by NI growers would be worth £15000 at farm gate price based on current production area.
• Alternatively growers may save £1000 per ha from use of tray plants if it is found that this potential increase cannot be realised.
• To hold market share