US: Light Florida crop has strawberry prices high

Below-average yields in Mexico have made for a light supply of strawberries in the United States. Along with light imports from Mexico, low volumes from Florida have kept strawberry prices strong.

“Strawberries are trickling in from Oxnard, where the season is just starting, but they're mostly coming in from Mexico right now,” said Charlie Staka with CBS Farms. “Mexico doesn't have the crop they were expecting this season, and I'd say they are probably about 25 percent below their initial estimate.” Unusually warm weather early in the Florida season has also kept domestic supplies light. Those two factors have contributed to a demand-exceeds-supply situation.

On January 26, prices for a flat of strawberries from Mexico were between $20.00 and $22.00 at crossings through the Otay Mesa and between $18.00 and $20.00 at crossings through Texas. For berries from Oxnard, flats were priced between $20.00 and $24.00, and Florida berries were priced between $20.00 and $26.90.

“I think prices will stay where they are for the next couple of weeks,” said Staka. “After that, Florida and Oxnard will come in with better supplies and prices should stabilize at lower levels.”

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Charlie Staka