The Ambato Strawberry of Ecuador

Abstract

In March 1952, in connection with a survey of temperate fruits in Central America, Colombia and Ecuador, I had the opportunity to visit one of the large strawberry fields near Guachi, a suburb of Ambato, Ecuador. This 100 to 200 acre field consists entirely of the Ambato variety, a selection of pure Fragaria chiloensis. The field is probably centuries old, the plants having been taken from Chile to Peru and Ecuador in the 16th century. The Ambato is one of the original selections that Indians in Chile are said to have made some 400 years ago. It is the only variety, so far as I could learn, grown in the Ambato area, at about 9500 feet above sea level. The fields are never replanted, only occasional runner plants being set to replace plants that die. Hand weeding is practiced about three times a year. Under the cool, semi-arid conditions of Ecuador, the Ambato bears fruit the year around without irrigation, and is picked about once each week.