California strawberry exports to the UK rose to 3,239 tonnes during the January-September period, compared to 1,859t in 2006, according to the California Strawberry Commission.
A recent state report reveals growers increased their reliance on fumigants in 2006. Strawberry growers, concentrated around Oxnard and in the Salinas and Watsonville areas, applied fumigants to 5,000 more acres, using an extra 132t of the chemicals compared to the previous year. This represents a nine per cent increase in acreage treated, and a three per cent rise in tonnage.
Carolyn O'Donnell from the California Strawberry Commission attributed the increase to a rise in strawberry acres were planted.
Methyl bromide has been banned under a United Nations treaty that protects the ozone layer. However, special exemptions allow it to be applied in certain areas, in California and Florida.
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