The Miami-Dade County Chapter of the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) will dedicate the “Charles S. Buster and John C. DeMott Greenhouse” at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) in Homestead on Oct. 24. This facility will honor John DeMott and Charles “Chuck” Buster, whose visionary work has significantly impacted South [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_48273" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-48273" style="width: 433px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" class=" wp-image-48273" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/10/Buster-and-DeMott-family-Courtesy-Buster-and-DeMott-Family-300x216.jpg" alt="" width="433" height="312" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-48273" class="wp-caption-text">The Buster and DeMott families together. Courtesy Buster and DeMott families.</figcaption></figure>
The Miami-Dade County Chapter of the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) will dedicate the “Charles S. Buster and John C. DeMott Greenhouse” at the UF/IFAS
Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) in Homestead on Oct. 24.
This facility will honor John DeMott and Charles “Chuck” Buster, whose visionary work has significantly impacted South Florida’s tropical horticulture industry and beyond.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony, scheduled for 4 p.m. at 18905 SW 280 St. in Homestead on the UF/IFAS TREC campus, will reinforce TREC’s commitment to serving as a hub advancing research, education and community engagement in subtropical horticulture.
“Chances are, if you love exotic ornamental plants and have them in your home, the varieties were introduced in some way by these two visionaries,” said <a href="https://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/people/edward-gilly-evans/">Edward “Gilly” Evans</a>, director of UF/IFAS TREC. “John and Chuck&#8217;s passion for plants transcended mere cultivation. They engaged both the local community, students and the wider industry, making an impact that will be felt for generations.”
<figure id="attachment_48271" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-48271" style="width: 298px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-48271" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/10/Charles-and-Margie-Buster-in-the-early-years-of-their-business-operations-Courtesy-Buster-Family-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="298" height="397" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-48271" class="wp-caption-text">Charles &#8220;Chuck&#8221; and his wife,  Margie, Buster in the early years of their business operations. Courtesy Buster Family.</figcaption></figure>
DeMott and Buster were more than just successful businessmen. They were pioneers who transformed family-run nursery businesses into industry-leading enterprises that influenced horticulture on a regional and national scale. Their collaboration in the 1980s cemented their status as horticultural trailblazers, pushing the boundaries of plant propagation, tropical species cultivation and nursery business innovation.
Jeffrey DeMott, son of John DeMott, and Jackie Torres, daughter of Chuck Buster, shared heartfelt memories of their parents.
John DeMott, who founded Redland Nursery in 1971, was a man driven by a deep love for plants, especially rare and unique species. “My dad had this incredible drive to make something rare common,” shared his son.
“He saw plant propagation as a way to preserve the species or ‘spread the germplasm,’ as he would say,” he added. “By propagating, distributing them into every backyard in Miami, you preserve the plant, ensuring its survival, and that was his passion.”
Buster, known for his acumen in business and production, brought a complementary skill set to the partnership he formed with DeMott in 1981. Together, they founded Alpha Foliage, Inc., which specialized in high-volume production of tropical plants, especially ferns. Buster’s meticulous attention to operational detail and efficiency made Alpha Foliage a powerhouse in the horticulture industry.
<figure id="attachment_48267" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-48267" style="width: 429px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-48267" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/10/DeMott-Carolyn-and-John-in-the-beginnings-Photos-courtesy-Demott-family-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="429" height="322" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-48267" class="wp-caption-text">Carolyn and John DeMott in the early days of Redland Nursery. Photos courtesy of the Demott family.</figcaption></figure>
“Chuck was the steady hand in business operations, while my dad brought creativity, growing skills and passion for rare plants,” said DeMott. “It was a perfect balance.”
Both men’s businesses were family affairs from the start. John’s wife, Carol, and Chuck’s wife, Margie, worked alongside their husbands to build their respective empires. Carol DeMott served as the bookkeeper for Redland Nursery and Alpha Foliage, ensuring that the behind-the-scenes operations were as meticulously managed as the plants they grew.
“The four of them &#8212; John, Chuck, Carol and Margie &#8212; would go out to dinner pretty much every Friday night together. There they would talk about the business and family. They shared good times,” said Torres.
Over the years, Redland Nursery and Alpha Foliage grew from humble beginnings — a less-than-10-acre plot — to more than 250 acres that stands today. The partnership between the DeMott and Buster families extended beyond business; their families were close-knit, spending time together outside of work as well.
“John and my dad, Chuck, were not just partners — they were best friends,” said Torres. “Our families grew up together, and we continue that partnership today with the next generation actively involved in the business.”
Both DeMott and Buster were committed to giving back to the community. They were long-standing supporters of FNGLA and held numerous leadership positions within the organization. John served on the FNGLA board for many years and was known for his dedication to supporting local events such as tournaments, barbecues and fundraisers for scholarships and agricultural education.
<figure id="attachment_48275" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-48275" style="width: 305px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-48275" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/10/Charles-Buster-among-the-thriving-ferns-at-Alpha-Foliage-Inc-Courtesy-Jackie-Torres-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="305" height="407" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-48275" class="wp-caption-text">Charles Buster among the thriving fern business at Alpha Foliage Inc Courtesy Jackie Torres.</figcaption></figure>
Both men were awarded the Babe Greer Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Miami-Dade Chapter of FNGLA, which is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the horticulture industry. Their legacy of community outreach, support for agricultural education and dedication to the industry remains unmatched.
“Dad was a strong proponent of keeping business local, always encouraging the industry to invest in the community and believed in staying loyal to his local community,” said Torres.
The Charles S. Buster and John C. DeMott Greenhouse will not only serve as a tribute to these two horticultural giants but will also be a center for research and education, said Evans. Faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers at TREC will use the facility to advance tropical plant science, innovate propagation techniques and study the unique challenges posed by South Florida’s subtropical climate.
“The greenhouse represents a lasting legacy of what John and Chuck stood for —innovation, community and a deep love for plants,” said Evans. “It will serve as a hands-on learning environment for students and a demonstration site for the public, showcasing the importance of horticulture in our region.”
“The installation of this air-conditioned greenhouse will significantly extend the timeframe for projects requiring precise temperature control, greatly enhancing TREC&#8217;s capacity for tropical plant research,” said <a href="https://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/people/xingbo-wu/">Xingbo Wu</a>, a plant breeder and geneticist at TREC whose <a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2023/08/24/uf-ifas-research-are-on-the-verge-of-developing-a-domestic-industry-one-of-the-worlds-most-valuable-spices/">vanilla research</a> will be one of the experiments housed in the greenhouse. We are deeply grateful to DeMott and Buster for their invaluable support in advancing our work in tropical agriculture”
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
###
by Lourdes Mederos, <a href="mailto:rodriguezl@ufl.edu">rodriguezl@ufl.edu</a>
ABOUT UF/IFAS 
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. <a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu">ifas.ufl.edu</a>  |  <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>
ABOUT UF/IFAS TROPICAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER
The mission of UF/IFAS Tropical Research &amp; Education Center (UF/IFAS TREC) is to develop and disseminate science-based information about tropical horticulture and natural resource sciences through teaching, basic and applied research, and extension, to sustain and enhance the quality of human life and the natural environment. Established in 1929, UF/IFAS TREC is the only state university research and education center in the continental U.S. focusing on tropical and subtropical crops. Our faculty, support scientists, and students conduct cutting edge research and disseminate findings to the public in areas such as crop and plant breeding and biotechnology, sea level rise, soil and water management, environmental conservation, climate change, invasive plant pests and disease management, agriculture and ecosystems sustainability, and much more. The Center’s unique location—between Florida Bay and Everglades National Park—strategically situates research to the Caribbean region, Latin America, and tropical regions around the world.

The Buster and DeMott families together. Courtesy Buster and DeMott families.
The Miami-Dade County Chapter of the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) will dedicate the “Charles S. Buster and John C. DeMott Greenhouse” at the UF/IFAS
Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) in Homestead on Oct. 24.
This facility will honor John DeMott and Charles “Chuck” Buster, whose visionary work has significantly impacted South Florida’s tropical horticulture industry and beyond.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony, scheduled for 4 p.m. at 18905 SW 280 St. in Homestead on the UF/IFAS TREC campus, will reinforce TREC’s commitment to serving as a hub advancing research, education and community engagement in subtropical horticulture.
“Chances are, if you love exotic ornamental plants and have them in your home, the varieties were introduced in some way by these two visionaries,” said Edward “Gilly” Evans, director of UF/IFAS TREC. “John and Chuck’s passion for plants transcended mere cultivation. They engaged both the local community, students and the wider industry, making an impact that will be felt for generations.”
Charles “Chuck” and his wife,  Margie, Buster in the early years of their business operations. Courtesy Buster Family.
DeMott and Buster were more than just successful businessmen. They were pioneers who transformed family-run nursery businesses into industry-leading enterprises that influenced horticulture on a regional and national scale. Their collaboration in the 1980s cemented their status as horticultural trailblazers, pushing the boundaries of plant propagation, tropical species cultivation and nursery business innovation.
Jeffrey DeMott, son of John DeMott, and Jackie Torres, daughter of Chuck Buster, shared heartfelt memories of their parents.
John DeMott, who founded Redland Nursery in 1971, was a man driven by a deep love for plants, especially rare and unique species. “My dad had this incredible drive to make something rare common,” shared his son.
“He saw plant propagation as a way to preserve the species or ‘spread the germplasm,’ as he would say,” he added. “By propagating, distributing them into every backyard in Miami, you preserve the plant, ensuring its survival, and that was his passion.”
Buster, known for his acumen in business and production, brought a complementary skill set to the partnership he formed with DeMott in 1981. Together, they founded Alpha Foliage, Inc., which specialized in high-volume production of tropical plants, especially ferns. Buster’s meticulous attention to operational detail and efficiency made Alpha Foliage a powerhouse in the horticulture industry.
Carolyn and John DeMott in the early days of Redland Nursery. Photos courtesy of the Demott family.
“Chuck was the steady hand in business operations, while my dad brought creativity, growing skills and passion for rare plants,” said DeMott. “It was a perfect balance.”
Both men’s businesses were family affairs from the start. John’s wife, Carol, and Chuck’s wife, Margie, worked alongside their husbands to build their respective empires. Carol DeMott served as the bookkeeper for Redland Nursery and Alpha Foliage, ensuring that the behind-the-scenes operations were as meticulously managed as the plants they grew.
“The four of them — John, Chuck, Carol and Margie — would go out to dinner pretty much every Friday night together. There they would talk about the business and family. They shared good times,” said Torres.
Over the years, Redland Nursery and Alpha Foliage grew from humble beginnings — a less-than-10-acre plot — to more than 250 acres that stands today. The partnership between the DeMott and Buster families extended beyond business; their families were close-knit, spending time together outside of work as well.
“John and my dad, Chuck, were not just partners — they were best friends,” said Torres. “Our families grew up together, and we continue that partnership today with the next generation actively involved in the business.”
Both DeMott and Buster were committed to giving back to the community. They were long-standing supporters of FNGLA and held numerous leadership positions within the organization. John served on the FNGLA board for many years and was known for his dedication to supporting local events such as tournaments, barbecues and fundraisers for scholarships and agricultural education.
Charles Buster among the thriving fern business at Alpha Foliage Inc Courtesy Jackie Torres.
Both men were awarded the Babe Greer Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Miami-Dade Chapter of FNGLA, which is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the horticulture industry. Their legacy of community outreach, support for agricultural education and dedication to the industry remains unmatched.
“Dad was a strong proponent of keeping business local, always encouraging the industry to invest in the community and believed in staying loyal to his local community,” said Torres.
The Charles S. Buster and John C. DeMott Greenhouse will not only serve as a tribute to these two horticultural giants but will also be a center for research and education, said Evans. Faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers at TREC will use the facility to advance tropical plant science, innovate propagation techniques and study the unique challenges posed by South Florida’s subtropical climate.
“The greenhouse represents a lasting legacy of what John and Chuck stood for —innovation, community and a deep love for plants,” said Evans. “It will serve as a hands-on learning environment for students and a demonstration site for the public, showcasing the importance of horticulture in our region.”
“The installation of this air-conditioned greenhouse will significantly extend the timeframe for projects requiring precise temperature control, greatly enhancing TREC’s capacity for tropical plant research,” said Xingbo Wu, a plant breeder and geneticist at TREC whose vanilla research will be one of the experiments housed in the greenhouse. We are deeply grateful to DeMott and Buster for their invaluable support in advancing our work in tropical agriculture”
 
 
###
by Lourdes Mederos, rodriguezl@ufl.edu
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS
ABOUT UF/IFAS TROPICAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER
The mission of UF/IFAS Tropical Research & Education Center (UF/IFAS TREC) is to develop and disseminate science-based information about tropical horticulture and natural resource sciences through teaching, basic and applied research, and extension, to sustain and enhance the quality of human life and the natural environment. Established in 1929, UF/IFAS TREC is the only state university research and education center in the continental U.S. focusing on tropical and subtropical crops. Our faculty, support scientists, and students conduct cutting edge research and disseminate findings to the public in areas such as crop and plant breeding and biotechnology, sea level rise, soil and water management, environmental conservation, climate change, invasive plant pests and disease management, agriculture and ecosystems sustainability, and much more. The Center’s unique location—between Florida Bay and Everglades National Park—strategically situates research to the Caribbean region, Latin America, and tropical regions around the world.

The Miami-Dade County Chapter of the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) will dedicate the “Charles S. Buster and John C. DeMott Greenhouse” at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) in Homestead on Oct. 24. This facility will honor John DeMott and Charles “Chuck” Buster, whose visionary work has significantly impacted South […]

UF/IFAS, Miami-Dade FNGLA chapter to honor South Florida horticulture pioneers John DeMott and Charles Buster

El extracto de vainilla se usa en casi todo el mundo, pero muy pocos saben que su origen es una hermosa planta de orquídea que crece en vides y trepa singularmente. Es la segunda especia más valiosa y Estados Unidos es el mayor importador de bayas, entonces ¿por qué no aprovechar las bondades de la [&#8230;]

El extracto de vainilla se usa en casi todo el mundo, pero muy pocos saben que su origen es una hermosa planta de orquídea que crece en vides y trepa singularmente. Es la segunda especia más valiosa y Estados Unidos es el mayor importador de bayas, entonces ¿por qué no aprovechar las bondades de la región sur de Florida para cultivarla? Esta idea es el punto de partida para un documento en español publicado en Ask IFAS en el cual se detallan los rasgos de la Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andrews (flores, hojas y fruto) y donde además se explican sus métodos de producción y cuidados necesarios. Los autores de este trabajo son Xingbo Wu, Pamela Moon, Alan Chambers, y Jonathan Crane; y la traducción corresponde a Alejandra Taco Vilatuna. Para leerlo completo aquí está el link <a href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS1350">&#8220;Cultivo de vainilla en el sur de Florida&#8221;</a>. Y por supuesto está disponible su versión original en inglés.
La vainilla tiene datos interesantes:
<ul>
<li>Madagascar, es el país líder en producción, pero existen otros países como Indonesia, Uganda, India, Comoras y México que tienen cifras significativas al respecto.</li>
<li>El cultivo se ha practicado en Estados Unidos desde principios de 1900 en Puerto Rico, Hawái y Florida. Los registros indican que la V. planifolia fue importada al estado sureño desde México a partir de 1899.</li>
<li>Florida tiene cuatro especies de vainilla nativas: V. barbellata, V. dilloniana, V. phaeantha, y V. mexicana.</li>
<li>La vainilla es semiepífita, lo cual significa que es capaz de enraizarse en el suelo y también crecer en otras plantas sin contacto directo con el suelo.</li>
<li>Las vainas contienen miles de semillas pequeñas, negras y redondas, pero al madurar se abren y ya no sirven para propósitos comerciales.</li>
<li>La producción comercial es muy dependiente de la polinización manual, porque la que se da de forma natural (insectos) resulta en una producción muy baja.</li>
<li>Ya que es una planta trepadora, necesita árboles &#8220;tutores&#8221;, por lo cual su siembra puede combinarse con la de árboles frutales.</li>
</ul>
Otros datos interesantes sobre cómo podarla, las plagas y enfermedades que la afectan, su irrigación y fertilización, los suelos que más le gustan y los métodos para su propagación, también se encuentran en este valioso texto.

El extracto de vainilla se usa en casi todo el mundo, pero muy pocos saben que su origen es una hermosa planta de orquídea que crece en vides y trepa singularmente. Es la segunda especia más valiosa y Estados Unidos es el mayor importador de bayas, entonces ¿por qué no aprovechar las bondades de la región sur de Florida para cultivarla? Esta idea es el punto de partida para un documento en español publicado en Ask IFAS en el cual se detallan los rasgos de la Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andrews (flores, hojas y fruto) y donde además se explican sus métodos de producción y cuidados necesarios. Los autores de este trabajo son Xingbo Wu, Pamela Moon, Alan Chambers, y Jonathan Crane; y la traducción corresponde a Alejandra Taco Vilatuna. Para leerlo completo aquí está el link “Cultivo de vainilla en el sur de Florida”. Y por supuesto está disponible su versión original en inglés.
La vainilla tiene datos interesantes:
Madagascar, es el país líder en producción, pero existen otros países como Indonesia, Uganda, India, Comoras y México que tienen cifras significativas al respecto.
El cultivo se ha practicado en Estados Unidos desde principios de 1900 en Puerto Rico, Hawái y Florida. Los registros indican que la V. planifolia fue importada al estado sureño desde México a partir de 1899.
Florida tiene cuatro especies de vainilla nativas: V. barbellata, V. dilloniana, V. phaeantha, y V. mexicana.
La vainilla es semiepífita, lo cual significa que es capaz de enraizarse en el suelo y también crecer en otras plantas sin contacto directo con el suelo.
Las vainas contienen miles de semillas pequeñas, negras y redondas, pero al madurar se abren y ya no sirven para propósitos comerciales.
La producción comercial es muy dependiente de la polinización manual, porque la que se da de forma natural (insectos) resulta en una producción muy baja.
Ya que es una planta trepadora, necesita árboles “tutores”, por lo cual su siembra puede combinarse con la de árboles frutales.
Otros datos interesantes sobre cómo podarla, las plagas y enfermedades que la afectan, su irrigación y fertilización, los suelos que más le gustan y los métodos para su propagación, también se encuentran en este valioso texto.

El extracto de vainilla se usa en casi todo el mundo, pero muy pocos saben que su origen es una hermosa planta de orquídea que crece en vides y trepa singularmente. Es la segunda especia más valiosa y Estados Unidos es el mayor importador de bayas, entonces ¿por qué no aprovechar las bondades de la […]

Cultivar vainilla en el sur de Florida

University of Florida scientists have found ethyl vanillin &#8212; an aroma compound in many artificial vanilla-flavored food products &#8212; in a UF/IFAS-bred strawberry. This is a key finding for the food and beverage industry and for the UF/IFAS strawberry breeding program. Vanilla beans contain the character-impact compound vanillin, which imparts vanilla flavor. Ethyl vanillin provides [&#8230;]

University of Florida scientists have found ethyl vanillin &#8212; an aroma compound in many artificial vanilla-flavored food products &#8212; in a UF/IFAS-bred strawberry.
This is a key finding for the food and beverage industry and for the UF/IFAS strawberry breeding program.
Vanilla beans contain the character-impact compound vanillin, which imparts vanilla flavor. Ethyl vanillin provides an even more powerful vanilla-like flavor. It is synthesized in labs and is one of the most widely used artificial flavors in the food, beverage, food supplements and pharmaceutical industries.
Finding ethyl vanillin in a strawberry may prove valuable for the flavor and food industries in the quest of offering consumers more natural flavors, said <a href="https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/people/faculty/yu-wang/">Yu Wang, an associate professor of food science and human nutrition</a> at the <a href="https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/">UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center</a>.
<figure id="attachment_40643" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-40643" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-40643 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="200" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2023/11/Vanilla-strawberries_Yu-Wang-in-lab_Courtesy-IFAS-photography_111423-300x200.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-40643" class="wp-caption-text">Yu Wang conducting research in a laboratory. Courtesy, UF/IFAS photography.</figcaption></figure>
“If restaurants and people cooking at home prefer their ingredients to be natural, they use vanilla extract,” said Wang, lead author of the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590157523003875?via%3Dihub">newly published study</a>. “They could also use artificial vanilla flavor, which might contain ethyl vanillin. It’s the same as when the flavor and food industries develop both natural and artificial flavors for the final food and beverage products, consumers have similar choices as well.”
In the new study, UF/IFAS scientists extracted 131 aroma compounds from the Medallion® strawberry, the UF/IFAS-bred variety that was commercialized in 2020. Both vanillin and ethyl vanillin were detected in the fruit.
<a href="https://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/gcrec-facultystaff-directory/vance-whitaker/">Vance Whitaker, a UF/IFAS professor of horticultural sciences</a> and a strawberry breeder, worked on the research, co-advising doctoral student Mark Porter with <a href="https://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/gcrec-facultystaff-directory/seonghee-lee/">Seonghee Lee, a UF/IFAS associate professor of horticultural sciences.</a> Wang also credited Xuebo Song, her post-doctoral researcher, for developing the analytical method by which scientists identified ethyl vanillin.
Scientists already knew that the Medallion® strawberry occasionally had a faint flavor of vanilla.
“I initially thought I was imagining it, but this research suggests I was not,” said Whitaker. He and Lee are faculty members at the <a href="https://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/">UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center</a>. “Medallion® would have great flavor, even without these two compounds &#8212; vanillin and ethyl vanillin &#8212; due to its high sugars and all the other aroma compounds. But the fact that strawberries can have a vanilla flavor is cool, and the fact that Medallion® has this makes it even more of a premium strawberry.”
Whitaker called attention to Porter’s Ph.D. research as part of an effort to understand the genetic control behind the most important strawberry aroma compounds.
“Ultimately, this feeds into the breeding program to make the flavor of our new varieties even better,” Whitaker said. “Right now, ethyl vanillin is not the most important compound impacting strawberry flavor, but this research allows us now to try to increase both vanillin and ethyl vanillin it in future varieties, to perhaps create a strawberry that has a clear and consistent vanilla flavor note.”
###
ABOUT UF/IFAS 
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
<a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/">ifas.ufl.edu</a>  |  <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>
WHY FOOD IS OUR MIDDLE NAME 
Feeding a hungry world takes effort. Nearly everything we do comes back to food: from growing it and getting it to consumers, to conserving natural resources and supporting agricultural efforts. Explore all the reasons why at <a href="https://ifas.ufl.edu/food/">ifas.ufl.edu/food</a> or follow <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23FoodIsOurMiddleName&amp;src=typed_query">#FoodIsOurMiddleName</a>.
[altmetric doi=&#8221;10.1016/j.fochx.2023.100944&#8243; details=&#8221;right]
 
&nbsp;

University of Florida scientists have found ethyl vanillin — an aroma compound in many artificial vanilla-flavored food products — in a UF/IFAS-bred strawberry.
This is a key finding for the food and beverage industry and for the UF/IFAS strawberry breeding program.
Vanilla beans contain the character-impact compound vanillin, which imparts vanilla flavor. Ethyl vanillin provides an even more powerful vanilla-like flavor. It is synthesized in labs and is one of the most widely used artificial flavors in the food, beverage, food supplements and pharmaceutical industries.
Finding ethyl vanillin in a strawberry may prove valuable for the flavor and food industries in the quest of offering consumers more natural flavors, said Yu Wang, an associate professor of food science and human nutrition at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center.
Yu Wang conducting research in a laboratory. Courtesy, UF/IFAS photography.
“If restaurants and people cooking at home prefer their ingredients to be natural, they use vanilla extract,” said Wang, lead author of the newly published study. “They could also use artificial vanilla flavor, which might contain ethyl vanillin. It’s the same as when the flavor and food industries develop both natural and artificial flavors for the final food and beverage products, consumers have similar choices as well.”
In the new study, UF/IFAS scientists extracted 131 aroma compounds from the Medallion® strawberry, the UF/IFAS-bred variety that was commercialized in 2020. Both vanillin and ethyl vanillin were detected in the fruit.
Vance Whitaker, a UF/IFAS professor of horticultural sciences and a strawberry breeder, worked on the research, co-advising doctoral student Mark Porter with Seonghee Lee, a UF/IFAS associate professor of horticultural sciences. Wang also credited Xuebo Song, her post-doctoral researcher, for developing the analytical method by which scientists identified ethyl vanillin.
Scientists already knew that the Medallion® strawberry occasionally had a faint flavor of vanilla.
“I initially thought I was imagining it, but this research suggests I was not,” said Whitaker. He and Lee are faculty members at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. “Medallion® would have great flavor, even without these two compounds — vanillin and ethyl vanillin — due to its high sugars and all the other aroma compounds. But the fact that strawberries can have a vanilla flavor is cool, and the fact that Medallion® has this makes it even more of a premium strawberry.”
Whitaker called attention to Porter’s Ph.D. research as part of an effort to understand the genetic control behind the most important strawberry aroma compounds.
“Ultimately, this feeds into the breeding program to make the flavor of our new varieties even better,” Whitaker said. “Right now, ethyl vanillin is not the most important compound impacting strawberry flavor, but this research allows us now to try to increase both vanillin and ethyl vanillin it in future varieties, to perhaps create a strawberry that has a clear and consistent vanilla flavor note.”
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The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
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University of Florida scientists have found ethyl vanillin — an aroma compound in many artificial vanilla-flavored food products — in a UF/IFAS-bred strawberry. This is a key finding for the food and beverage industry and for the UF/IFAS strawberry breeding program. Vanilla beans contain the character-impact compound vanillin, which imparts vanilla flavor. Ethyl vanillin provides […]

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