California strawberry growers plan to plant 35,696 acres for 2008, a 3 percent increase over 2007 planted acreage, according to a survey conducted by the Watsonville-based California Strawberry Commission.

California strawberry acreage planted in the fall, which produces fruit during the traditional winter, spring, and summer seasons, increased by 689 acres or 2.3 percent statewide. Compared with 2007, acreage in Orange County/San Diego increased by 29 acres.

Oxnard and San Joaquin reported decreases in acreage of 27 and 100 acres respectively. Santa Maria and Watsonville/Salinas districts reported increases of 31 and 757 acres respectively.

California strawberry acreage to be planted this summer, which produces during the fall season, is projected to increase by 366 acres or 7.8 percent compared with 2007. Most of the projected summer planted acreage is located in Oxnard and Santa Maria. Oxnard projected a decrease of 421 acres and Santa Maria an increase of 847 acres compared with 2007.

Orange County/San Diego and San Joaquin reported no projected summer planted acreage. Projected summer planted acreage for 2008 was reported as 14.2 percent of the state total, compared with 13.6 percent in 2007.