Steam-Soaked Soil Delivers Bigger Strawberries Without Chemicals

Quick Smiles:

• UC Santa Cruz researchers replace chemical fumigants with simple steam for organic strawberries
• Early field trials show bigger berries and healthier plants with zero synthetic chemicals
• Local growers celebrate a low-cost, earth-friendly solution that protects families and pollinators

California’s strawberry fields are about to get a whole lot sweeter and safer, thanks to a gentle puff of steam that replaces harsh chemical fumigants. University of California Santa Cruz scientists have spent years perfecting a mobile soil-steaming system that heats soil just enough to knock out weeds and pests while leaving the good microbes behind.

The technique delivers two wins at once: organic growers can keep their certification, and nearby communities no longer worry about lingering chemical residues. Early test plots produced noticeably larger berries and sturdier plants, proving that nature-friendly methods can still mean bumper harvests.

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