strawberries – TriCal, Inc.

Plasticulture Basics Part 1: Understanding Row Mulch in Agriculture

Posted on March 30, 2026March 28, 2026 by Cat Reyes

A TriCal, Inc. Perspective Growers across the country rely on plasticulture systems to improve consistency, efficiency, and overall crop performance. One of the most widely used tools in these systems is row mulch, a plastic film installed over planting beds to enhance soil conditions and protect developing crops. Those long rows of black, white, or […]

How Strawberries Became the Crop We Know Today

Posted on July 28, 2025July 19, 2025 by Cat Reyes

Long before they became a staple on farms and in grocery stores, strawberries were wild fruits foraged by ancient peoples. Archaeological evidence shows that humans enjoyed wild strawberries (Fragaria species) in both prehistoric Europe and the Americas. In Ancient Europe, the small but flavorful woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca) was known to the Greeks and Romans. […]

Ag News: A blog by Dr. Mike Stanghellini, Dr. Kristi Sanchez & Guests

Our Authors

Dr. Mike Stanghellini
Director of Research & Regulatory Affairs Dr. Mike Stanghellini received a dual-major Ph.D. in Entomology and Horticultural Science with a minor in Plant Pathology from North Carolina State University. Since 2005, he has served as the TriCal liaison to federal, state, and international regulatory agencies, agrochemical companies, grower organizations, and third-party research entities. Mike directs and supervises our research on product defense, new product registration, and lab/field research on soil fumigants, novel products, and non-fumigant soil pest control tactics.

Dr. Kristi Sanchez
Senior Researcher and Nematologist Dr. Kristi Sanchez received her Ph. D. in Plant Pathology, specializing in Nematology, from the University of California, Davis. She has over a decade of combined research and field experience with UC Davis, the agrichemical industry, and the Plant Pest Diagnostics Center with the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Kristi’s expertise includes pest management of nematodes, morphological and molecular diagnostics of plant parasitic nematodes, and the development of experimental assays for nematode studies in the lab and field. Kristi is a regular invited speaker on topics related to soil health, nematode control, and integrated pest management in orchards.