In 1780, the United States witnessed the emergence of the first strawberry hybrid variety known as Hudson. Originating in Virginia, this variety could easily be distinguished from European counterparts, particularly Hautboys. In 1834, Charley Hovey, a nurseryman from Cambridge, Massachusetts, intentionally crossbred plants, resulting in a new variety named 'Hovey,' which subsequently became an ancestor to numerous modern strawberry varieties.
The process involved sowing seeds in greenhouse boxes, and the young plants were transplanted to open ground in June. By 1835, these plants began bearing fruit, reaching full production by 1836.
In 1852, James Wilson of Albany introduced the initial true hermaphrodite strawberry, commonly referred to as 'Wilson's Albany' or simply 'Wilson.' This groundbreaking innovation quickly gained popularity, as it obviated the need to intercrop different male and female varieties, ensuring consistent yields of luscious red fruit.
The commercial production of strawberries in North America flourished with the introduction of Wilson's Albany. Between 1860 and 1885, it became the predominant variety cultivated in the United States.
Jumping ahead to 1999, New York state secured the seventh national ranking in strawberry production, generating $8.27 million in revenues from self-pick and consumer market sales.
Strawberry Varieties Evolution
