Strawberries are red fruits from strawberry plants, species of herbaceous plants belonging to the genus Fragaria (family Rosaceae). These fruits are appreciated for their aroma, sweetness and juicy texture. Strawberries can be eaten raw, but they can also be used in prepared foods, mainly as deserts, pastries, milkshake and ice cream. 

 

Strawberries production is led by China which produces more than a third of the strawberries harvested in the world, the United-States is the second producer, followed by Mexico. California accounts for almost 90% of the production in the U.S.

 

This market research encompasses the two distinct main sub segments:

• The fresh strawberries market which accounts for about 75% of the California harvest;
• The frozen and processed strawberries market.

 

Several businesses are included in this report: equipment and products suppliers, major growers, processors, grocers and shipping firms.

 

Domestic consumption of strawberry has been growing fast and California growers export only about 15% of their production abroad. Canada is the main recipient for California strawberries and represents more than two thirds of the overall exports.

 

U.S consumption of strawberries has increased fourfold in the last twenty years. Demand is expected to grow as strawberries benefit from a growing interest from Millennials and health-centric consumers. Purchasers are looking for year-round availability of strawberries and value most: freshness, flavor, appearance and price. To meet this growing demand, the strawberry industry is facing many challenges in California, including labor shortage, increasing land prices and growing regulations on fumigants.

 

The loss of the food service market due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 was a heavy hit to the strawberry industry in California. Producers struggled to shift their production to meet retail demand, but part of the crop was lost in March and April 2020. However, the strawberry industry managed to recover as the economy rebounded in 2021.

 

Among the latest trends, fresh organic strawberries are on the rise. More than 5,500 acreages of fresh strawberries were harvested in 2020 in California. Organic production rose by 10% to reach about a tenth of total volume. The two leading counties in terms of fresh strawberry organic production are Monterey and Santa Barbara.