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{{Short description|Edible fruit cultivar}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
[[File:Strawberries for sale at Mahabaleshwar.jpg|thumb|right|Mahabaleshwar strawberries]]
The '''Mahabaleshwar strawberry''' is a [[strawberry]] grown in the hilly slopes of [[Mahabaleshwar]], India which accounts for about 85 percent of the total strawberry produced in that country. Strawberries, along with [[raspberry|raspberries]], [[mulberry|mulberries]] and [[gooseberry|gooseberries]] are produced on a large scale in and around Mahabaleshwar. The Mahabaleshwar strawberry obtained the [[geographical indication]] (GI) tag in 2010.

==History==
Strawberries were brought to the region from [[Australia]] during the British colonial rule. Mahabaleshwar was the summer capital of the [[Bombay Presidency]] under [[British Raj]]. Since then, local farmers have developed their own varieties of the fruit, some of which are imported from other places.<ref name=bounty>{{cite web|last1=Kanan Chandra|first1=Kavita|title=Berry bounty|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/travel/berry-bounty/article3384072.ece|work=The Hindu|accessdate=27 January 2016|date=11 May 2012}}</ref><ref name=bstd/><ref name=trib>{{cite web|title=India's strawberry fields|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140316/spectrum/travel.htm|work=The Tribune|accessdate=27 January 2016|date=16 March 2014}}</ref>

==Production==
The Mahabaleshwar strawberry is grown mainly in the hilly Mahabaleshwar-[[Panchgani]] belt in western [[Maharashtra]]. As of late 2015, it is grown in an estimated area of 3,000 acres with about 30,000 metric tonnes of the fruit being produced annually.<ref name=expec>{{cite web|last1=Kasabe|first1=Nanda|title=Shorter strawberry season expected this year in Maharashtra|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/article/markets/commodities/shorter-strawberry-season-expected-this-year-in-maharashtra/168539/|work=The Financial Express|accessdate=27 January 2016|date=21 November 2015}}</ref> Mahabaleshwar strawberry contributes to about 85 percent of the total strawberry production in the country.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kasabe|first1=Nanda|title=Growing demand for strawberries in domestic market|url=http://archive.financialexpress.com/news/growing-demand-for-strawberries-in-domestic-market/913569|work=The Financial Express|accessdate=1 February 2016|date=18 February 2012}}</ref><ref name=good/><ref name=redi/> The cool climate and red soil of the region make it suitable for growing the fruit and give it a unique taste.<ref name=bounty/>

[[File:StrawBerries from Mahabaleshwar.jpg|thumb|right|Mahabaleshwar strawberries being sold]]
The Mahabaleshwar strawberry is a seasonal fruit with the usual season lasting between October–November and April–May. Mother saplings, some of which are imported from [[California]] in the month of June, are planted in nurseries in places like [[Wai, Maharashtra|Wai]]. The runners produced by each of these saplings are replanted in the month of September.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kher|first1=Swatee|title=Strawberries to be late by a month or more|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/strawberries-to-be-late-by-a-month-or-more/870477/0|work=The Indian Express|accessdate=27 January 2016|date=4 November 2011}}</ref> The land is prepared after the monsoon season in September by [[fumigation]] and covering the fields with plastic sheets. The seeds are planted in holes punched through these sheets and sprays are added to the fields.<ref name=trib/>

Nearly half of the fruit in the region belongs to the Sweet Charlie variety of California, with Camarosa and Winter Dawn being the other two major varieties.<ref name=good>{{cite web|last1=Kshirsagar|first1=Alka|title=Mahabaleshwar set for good strawberry season|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/mahabaleshwar-set-for-good-strawberry-season/article2805530.ece|work=The Hindu Business Line|accessdate=27 January 2016|date=16 January 2012}}</ref> Other notable varieties include Rania and Nabila.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kasabe|first1=Nanda|title=Indian strawberry finds way to Malaysian markets|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/article/markets/commodities/indian-strawberry-finds-way-to-malaysian-markets/15837/|work=The Financial Express|accessdate=27 January 2016|date=5 December 2014}}</ref> Mahabaleshwar strawberry is used in making various food products in the region such as preserves, jams, fruit crushes, ice-creams, milkshakes, strawberry with fresh cream, strawberry fudge, strawberry wine and jelly toffees.<ref name=trib/>

==Export==
Strawberries from Mahabaleshwar are exported in large quantities to other countries like [[France]], [[Belgium]], [[Malaysia]], and to the [[Middle East]]. The fruit is frozen before it is exported.<ref name=redi>{{cite web|title=Mahabaleshwar poised for strawberry boom|url=http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/apr/11straw.htm|publisher=Rediff|accessdate=27 January 2016|date=11 April 2007}}</ref>

==Geographical Indication==
In 2009, the All India Strawberry Grower's Association proposed the registration of Mahabaleshwar strawberry under the Geographical Indications of Goods Act, 1999, to the Office of the Controller-General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks, [[Chennai]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-11-11 |title=Mahabaleshwar seeks GI tag for its strawberries |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/commodities/mahabaleshwar-seeks-gi-tag-for-its-strawberries/articleshow/5217249.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-07-01 |issn=0013-0389}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=giá dâu tây vinmart |url=https://dautaydalat.org/tin-tuc/gia-dau-tay-vinmart/ |access-date=2023-07-01 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The fruit was granted the GI status two years later in 2010.<ref name=bstd>{{cite news|last1=Joshi|first1=Hrishikesh|title=Mahabaleshwar strawberry gets GI status|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/mahabaleshwar-strawberry-gets-gi-status-110051400085_1.html|work=Business Standard|accessdate=27 January 2016|date=14 May 2010}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Mapro Garden]]
* [[List of Geographical Indications in India]]
* [[List of strawberry cultivars]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Strawberry cultivars]]
[[Category:Economy of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Agriculture in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Satara district]]
[[Category:Mahabaleshwar]]
[[Category:Panchgani]]
[[Category:Geographical indications in Maharashtra]]

Mahabaleshwar strawberry - Revision history

Nobranding1: Made Info