‘Florida Elyana’ produces larger fruit than ‘Strawberry Festival’. This habit, along with fruit that are attached to long pedicels, makes the fruit easy to harvest ( Fig. It is smaller and a lower-stature plant than ‘Strawberry Festival’ ( Chandler et al., 2000). ‘Florida Elyana’ is a short-day cultivar. Fruit were analyzed for surface color using a colorimeter (Konica Minolta Sensing, Inc., Osaka, Japan) and firmness using a penetrometer (Model 4411 Instron, Canton, MA). Department of Agriculture in Winter Haven, FL, where they were analyzed for soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA). Fresh fruit was transported to the Citrus and Subtropical Products Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. A line for comments was provided after each question. Panelists were asked to rate samples for appearance, flavor, and texture on a 9-point hedonic scale (1 = dislike extremely, 5 = neither like nor dislike, 9 = like extremely). Presentation was randomized across panelists and serving order was balanced so that each sample was tested in each station. Panelists were asked to taste the berries following the codes written on their ballot sheets and answer the questions on the ballots. Unsalted crackers and spring water were provided for cleansing the palate between samples. Strawberries were presented in bulk on a 23-cm diameter plate at each station. Approximately half of all panelists were repeat tasters. Panelist ages ranged from younger than 26 to older than 65 years old with the majority of panelists between 36 and 55 years old. At least 50 untrained panelists participated in these panels and rated fruit for appearance, texture, and flavor. Six or seven tasting stations, coded A through G corresponding to the selection codes, were arranged around a large central laboratory table. Participants were employees from and visitors to the center willing to consume strawberries. For postharvest quality analysis, sensory panels were conducted at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center two times during 2006 and three times during 2007. Ripe fruit were harvested, graded, counted, and weighed twice a week from December through March. Citation: HortScience horts 44, 6 10.21273/HORTSCI.īased on the desirable appearance and firmness of ‘Florida Elyana’ fruit, it was included in randomized complete block trials at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center of the University of Florida at Dover and Balm, FL, respectively, during the 2004–20–2007 seasons.