Florida Strawberry Festival Opens Amid Agricultural Celebrations

PLANT CITY, Fla. — The 90th annual Florida Strawberry Festival is set to kick off on Feb. 27, 2025, in Plant City, promising 11 days of celebration focused on the agricultural community.

Kyle Robinson, the president of the festival, emphasized its commitment to promoting agriculture while supporting local youth. “While we have a huge fair and it’s known throughout the country, our number one goal is to promote agriculture and support our youth,” said Robinson.

As preparations continue, seventh-generation farmer Gary Parke of Parkesdale Farms shares insights from his family’s multi-decade journey in strawberry farming. His family started this agricultural tradition in Plant City in 1956.

“Just checking the diesel, the radiator fluid, and the oil fluid before we start the pump,” said Parke, highlighting the meticulous process involved in farming. He noted that it’s a busy time for his team, which is preparing for the upcoming planting season.

Parke explained the extensive physical labor necessary for successful strawberry cultivation. “All season long we’re giving what each plant and what the grounds are missing, we’re putting it back in,” he said.

Preparation includes working on newly purchased land, where Parke plans to install a pump in the coming months. “That should have us ready for strawberries by next August,” he added.

Parke explained that the farming process is a continuous cycle involving crop care and inspections. At the packing warehouse, all strawberries undergo thorough inspections to sort them for both the festival and market distribution.

“There’s granddads’ history and then there’s my dad’s history, my brother’s and then mine, and it’s all going to be different,” Parke remarked. “While the people working the land may change, he knows cultivating strawberries will continue for generations.”

The theme for this year’s festival, “The Stage Is Set!”, reflects the vibrant spirit of the event, which runs from February 27 to March 9.