🍓 Why Strawberries Are Hard to Grow Organically

February 16, 2026 ·

Strawberries are one of the most loved fruits in the world — sweet, bright, and full of flavor. But what many people don’t realize is that strawberries are also one of the most challenging crops to grow, especially organically.

We often get asked, “Why aren’t all strawberries organic?” The honest answer is: strawberries are delicate, vulnerable plants that face constant pressure from pests, disease, and weather. Growing them organically is possible — but it’s incredibly difficult and risky.

Here’s why.

🌧 1. Strawberries Sit Right on the Ground

Unlike apples or peaches that grow on trees, strawberries grow low to the soil. The fruit often rests directly on plastic mulch or very close to the ground.

That means they’re constantly exposed to:

  • Soil-borne diseases
  • Rot caused by moisture
  • Mud splash during heavy rain
  • Fungal spores

In a wet spring — which is common in North Carolina — fruit rot can spread quickly. Organic options for controlling fungal diseases are limited and often less effective during heavy rainfall.

🐛 2. Insects Love Strawberries Too

Strawberries attract a wide variety of insects:

  • Thrips
  • Spider mites
  • Aphids
  • Tarnished plant bugs
  • Spotted wing drosophila

Organic insect control methods exist, but they typically:

  • Require more frequent applications
  • Are less targeted
  • Can be less reliable in high-pressure seasons

If insects damage the blossoms, it affects fruit shape and yield. If they damage ripening fruit, it can ruin entire sections of a field.

🌸 3. Flowers Are Extremely Sensitive

Each strawberry starts as a delicate white flower. If that blossom is damaged by:

  • Frost
  • Insects
  • Disease

…it will never become a healthy berry.

Organic growers have fewer tools to protect flowers during high-risk weather events. One cold night or wet week can significantly reduce harvest.

🌱 4. Weeds Compete Aggressively

Strawberries don’t compete well with weeds. In organic systems, weed control is mostly mechanical or manual, which:

  • Requires more labor
  • Increases production costs
  • Can disturb shallow strawberry roots

Weeds steal nutrients, water, and sunlight — directly reducing berry size and sweetness.

☁ 5. Weather Makes Everything Harder

Strawberries thrive in cool, dry conditions. But spring often brings:

  • Heavy rain
  • High humidity
  • Sudden temperature swings

Organic disease control options can struggle during prolonged wet periods. In a commercial operation, one bad stretch of weather can mean losing a significant portion of the crop.

💰 6. Risk vs. Reality

Growing organically often means:

  • Lower yields
  • Higher labor costs
  • Higher risk of total crop loss
  • More cosmetic imperfections

For small family farms, one failed season can be devastating.

❤️ So What Does This Mean?

It means growing strawberries responsibly takes care, attention, and balance.

Many farms (including ours) focus on:

  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
  • Targeted, minimal applications when absolutely necessary
  • Monitoring fields daily
  • Protecting pollinators
  • Harvesting at peak ripeness

Our goal is always to grow the safest, sweetest strawberries possible while caring for the land and our community.

🍓 A Final Thought

Strawberries are delicate, high-maintenance plants. Growing them organically on a commercial scale is possible — but it requires perfect conditions, constant vigilance, and a willingness to accept higher losses.

When you bite into a fresh strawberry, you’re tasting months of work, careful monitoring, and a little bit of cooperation from the weather.

And that’s what makes them so special.