California Giant maintains trial and evaluation sites in California's three main production areas, Oxnard/Ventura, Santa Maria and Watsonville.  The California Giant strawberry breeding program's selection criteria centers on

• Consistent flavor
• Uniform shape and size
• Extended shelf life
• Exceptional disease tolerance
• Improved earliness
• Extended production with high total productivity

California Giant's emphasis on disease resistance has produced varieties that minimize the need for pesticides and chemical fertilizers.  The plants tend to be highly vegetative and vigorous.  These characteristics make the varieties adaptable to organic farming systems.               

Since 2002, Ekland Marketing Company has actively trialed and evaluated California Giant's advanced selections in Spain, the Middle East and Latin America. 

Dr. Dave Small, Plant Breeder, visiting Spanish production area with
Ekland Marketing's EU Marketing Manager, Ms. Maria del Carmen Sánchez.