Strawberry Farming
Description
Strawberry farming represents a specialized segment of U.S. crop production focused on the cultivation and harvest of the fruit known for its small red berries and rich flavor. These establishments manage agricultural operations ranging from small-scale hobby farms to large industrial facilities dedicated to commercial production. The primary business activity involves preparing soil, applying fertilizers and pesticides, planting seedlings or growing berries from runner plants, and ensuring proper irrigation throughout the growing season. Operators work closely to monitor plant health and optimize yields to meet peak harvest windows during spring and summer months. Many businesses utilize greenhouses or tunnel systems to extend the growing period and protect crops from weather extremes. Sales channels vary significantly, with some farms selling directly to local grocery stores and farmers markets, while larger operations distribute through wholesale networks and supermarkets. The scale of these businesses differs widely, with some families operating just a few acres and others managing hundreds of acres across multiple regions. This sector relies heavily on seasonal labor and precise timing to manage the delicate nature of strawberry harvests. Ultimately, successful strawberry farming combines traditional agricultural techniques with modern management strategies to produce a highly popular and perishable food item that supplies consumers nationwide and internationally.
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in growing crops, raising animals, harvesting timber, and harvesting fish and other animals from a farm, ranch, or their natural habitats. The establishments in this sector are often described as farms, ranches, dairies, greenhouses, nurseries, orchards, or hatcheries. A farm may consist of a single tract of land or a number of separate tracts which may be held under different tenures. For example, one tract may be owned by the farm operator and another rented. It may be operated by the operator alone or with the assistance of members of the household or hired employees, or it may be operated by a partnership, corporation, or other type of organization. When a landowner has one or more tenants, renters, croppers, or managers, the land operated by each is considered a farm. The sector distinguishes two basic activities: agricultural production and agricultural support activities. Agricultural production includes establishments performing the complete farm or ranch operation, such as farm owner-operators and tenant farm operators. Agricultural support activities include establishments that perform one or more activities associated with farm operation, such as soil preparation, planting, harvesting, and management, on a contract or fee basis. Excluded from the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector are establishments primarily engaged in agricultural research (e.g., experimental farms) and government establishments primarily engaged in administering programs for regulating and conserving land, mineral, wildlife, and forest use. These establishments are classified in Industry 54171, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences; and Industry 92412, Administration of Conservation Programs, respectively. |
| 111 | Crop Production 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Crop Production subsector grow crops mainly for food and fiber. The subsector comprises establishments, such as farms, orchards, groves, greenhouses, and nurseries, primarily engaged in growing crops, plants, vines, or trees and their seeds. The industries in this subsector are grouped by similarity of production activity, including biological and physiological characteristics and economic requirements, the length of growing season, degree of crop rotation, extent of input specialization, labor requirements, and capital demands. The production process is typically completed when the raw product or commodity grown reaches the "farm gate" for market, that is, at the point of first sale or price determination. Establishments are classified in the Crop Production subsector when crop production (i.e., value of crops for market) accounts for one-half or more of the establishment's total agricultural production. Within the subsector, establishments are classified in a specific industry when a product or industry family of products (i.e., oilseed and grain farming, vegetable and melon farming, fruit and tree nut farming) account for one-half or more of the establishment's agricultural production. Establishments with one-half or more crop production with no one product or family of products of an industry accounting for one-half of the establishment's agricultural production are treated as general combination crop farming and are classified in Industry 11199, All Other Crop Farming. Industries in the Crop Production subsector include establishments that own, operate, and manage and those that operate and manage. Those that manage only are classified in Subsector 115, Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry. Establishments that raise aquatic plants in controlled or selected aquatic environments are classified in Subsector 112, Animal Production and Aquaculture. |
| 1113 | Fruit and Tree Nut Farming 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in growing fruit and/or tree nut crops. The crops included in this industry group are generally not grown from seeds and have a perennial life cycle. |
| 11133 | Noncitrus Fruit and Tree Nut Farming 5-digit NAICS industry | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in one or more of the following: (1) growing noncitrus fruits (e.g., apples, grapes, berries, peaches); (2) growing tree nuts (e.g., pecans, almonds, pistachios); or (3) growing a combination of fruit(s) and tree nut(s) with no one fruit (or family of fruit) or family of tree nuts accounting for one-half of the establishment's agricultural production (i.e., value of crops for market). |
| 111333 | Strawberry Farming 6-digit U.S. detail | Strawberry farming represents a specialized segment of U.S. crop production focused on the cultivation and harvest of the fruit known for its small red berries and rich flavor. These establishments manage agricultural operations ranging from small-scale hobby farms to large industrial facilities dedicated to commercial production. The primary business activity involves preparing soil, applying fertilizers and pesticides, planting seedlings or growing berries from runner plants, and ensuring proper irrigation throughout the growing season. Operators work closely to monitor plant health and optimize yields to meet peak harvest windows during spring and summer months. Many businesses utilize greenhouses or tunnel systems to extend the growing period and protect crops from weather extremes. Sales channels vary significantly, with some farms selling directly to local grocery stores and farmers markets, while larger operations distribute through wholesale networks and supermarkets. The scale of these businesses differs widely, with some families operating just a few acres and others managing hundreds of acres across multiple regions. This sector relies heavily on seasonal labor and precise timing to manage the delicate nature of strawberry harvests. Ultimately, successful strawberry farming combines traditional agricultural techniques with modern management strategies to produce a highly popular and perishable food item that supplies consumers nationwide and internationally. |
Need a supply chain stack that maps to this industry?
Use this NAICS classification as the starting point, then connect it to Item workflows across inventory, warehousing, order management, fulfillment, and transportation.
Classification References
- 01Establishments engaged in growing strawberries in combination with tree nut(s) with the strawberries or family of tree nuts not accounting for one-half of the establishment's agricultural production (i.e., value of crops for market) are classified in U.S. Industry 111336, Fruit and Tree Nut Combination Farming.
Index Items
Strawberry farming
How Item Can Help
The Strawberry Farming WMS provides real-time visibility into ripening stages across different growing zones, allowing managers to precisely schedule harvests based on optimal sugar content and visual readiness. This precision minimizes on-farm spoilage during peak seasons by ensuring only the highest quality fruit is collected.
Item's Order Management System integrates with market demand trends to dynamically adjust sales orders for specific strawberry varieties and sizes directly at the point of sale. By prioritizing orders from fresh, local customers, OMS reduces lead times and ensures rapid fulfillment of short shelf-life produce.
Data Intelligence tools analyze historical climate patterns and soil health metrics to predict ideal harvest windows for the next growing season. This predictive capability allows farmers to optimize irrigation and nutrient application, resulting in a higher yield of consistent quality strawberries.
Item.com Tools
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 111333.
National Strawberry Association
The primary US trade association providing industry news, research, and resources for strawberry producers.
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
Official US government resource offering crop reports, production data, and economic statistics for strawberries.
National Center for Appropriate Technology
Nonprofit organization providing practical guides, tips, and articles on sustainable strawberry farming and production.
