Published 2019-04-19
Abstract
Based on an organic strawberry experiment conducted during the 2013–14 season at the Plant Science Research and Education Unit in Citra, FL, an economic analysis was performed to explore the potential of employing a high tunnel system for improving profitability of organic strawberry production. Six commercial cultivars including ‘Strawberry Festival’, ‘Florida Radiance’, ‘WinterstarTM FL 05-107’, ‘Albion’, ‘Camarosa’, and ‘Treasure’ were tested in high tunnel and open field plots. Compared with the open field strawberry, high tunnel production resulted in an increase in total revenue by 169% on average. Great variability in total revenue was also observed among cultivars. Despite the higher cost of using the high tunnel system, high tunnel production resulted in higher partial net returns than the open field except for ‘Florida Radiance’ and ‘Treasure’. ‘Strawberry Festival’ showed the highest partial net return in the open field, while WinterstarTM ‘FL 05-107’ outperformed other cultivars in the high tunnel. The advantages of high tunnel production were also dependent on the market price for strawberry. The difference in partial net return between high tunnel and open field production could decrease significantly as high tunnel costs increase and the life span of high tunnel decreases.