Researchers are studying if strawberries could be a new cash crop for farmers in northern New Mexico.
The New Mexico State University scientists currently are testing whether the sweet red fruit could survive the area's early spring freezes.
Fruit specialist Shengrui Yao (ZHEN-grew-EE YAO) says late frosts won't kill all of the flowers or buds in a cluster so the fruit may be a good alternative for growers.
The study also is designed to determine which treatment will help strawberry plants adapt to high pH soil.
The move comes two years after a late freeze destroyed the state's peach crop.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.