California strawberry prices fall

FreshPlaza reported on May 13 that U.S. strawberry prices were lower this week, alongside softer tomato and blueberry markets, as seasonal supplies increased. California growers entered the spring peak with larger volumes after warm winter weather accelerated ripening and newer commercial varieties increased marketable fruit, according to industry and market reports. The California Strawberry Commission had projected earlier spring production heading into 2026, and University of California advisers said February heat moved harvest up by weeks. USDA shipping-point reports dated May 12 showed California strawberries at mostly $14 to $16 for flats packed with eight 1-pound containers. ### Why are more California strawberries reaching the market now? The California Strawberry Commission said earlier spring production was expected in 2026 because growers planted more newer commercial varieties from the University of California and private breeders. Chris Christian of the commission told FreshPlaza that warmer conditions in February and March, along with those cultivars, supported early production. (freshplaza.com) Mark Bolda, a University of California Cooperative Extension strawberry adviser, said the season’s early start was driven mainly by unusual heat rather than variety type alone. “It’s been all about unseasonably warm temperatures early on. It bumped the season up by two or three weeks,” Bolda said, after February temperatures in Monterey County reached the 80s Fahrenheit. (freshplaza.com) ### How far ahead is harvest in the main growing districts? Watsonville-Salinas growers had harvested 2.9 million crates by April 4, compared with 230,000 crates in the same period in 2024, according to figures cited by FreshPlaza and Morning Ag Clips. The early start meant the Watsonville-Salinas district in Northern California was harvesting at the same time as Oxnard in Southern California. (freshplaza.com) Oxnard growers were running 3.5 million crates ahead of the prior year’s output, while Santa Maria farms were 7.1 million trays ahead of 2025 levels for the same point in the season, the reports said. California is projected to produce 90% of U.S. strawberries in 2026, with 17,694 hectares planted, according to FreshPlaza’s report citing the commission. (freshplaza.com) ### What do the latest price reports show? USDA Agricultural Marketing Service shipping-point data dated May 12 listed Oxnard District strawberries at $14 to $16 per flat, mostly $14, for flats packed with eight 1-pound containers. The same May 12 report listed Salinas-Watsonville strawberries at $14 to $16 per flat and organic berries at mostly $20 to $22. A separate USDA terminal market report showed California strawberries at $35 to $38 per flat, mostly $36, for extra-large fruit in one wholesale market report published this week. (freshplaza.com) FreshPlaza said the broader U.S. market for strawberries, tomatoes and blueberries had softened as seasonal supply shifted. ### Are growers saying weather is the only factor? Chris Christian said newer publicly available varieties are also changing the supply picture. “There’s more publicly available varieties now from the university programs and from breeding companies that are making their varieties more available to the industry at large,” she said. (ams.usda.gov 1) (ams.usda.gov 2) Monterey County conditions have also brought complications. Bolda said the same warm pattern that accelerated ripening increased insect and mite pressure, and rain beginning April 21 was expected to interrupt harvest activity in Watsonville-Salinas for about a week. ### What should readers watch next in this market? USDA Market News publishes regular shipping-point and terminal-market reports that track strawberry prices by district, package and quality, and those reports will show whether the current $14-to-$16 shipping-point range holds as peak volumes continue. (freshplaza.com) The California Strawberry Commission and University of California researchers are also tracking how newer varieties perform as spring moves toward fall plantings, which the commission said would cover another 4,580 hectares in 2026. (ams.usda.gov)