Raspberry production in California is coming off its early season peak, and that's tightened the supply of berries in the market. This comes as Mexican shipments come down, which has resulted in strong pricing on raspberries.For the last several weeks, imports were competing with local production in Salinas and Watsonville, and that contributed to low prices. But Mexican shipments are drying up, and the market has come alive.
On June 22, prices for a flat of raspberries from Salinas and Watsonville were mostly between $14.00 and $16.00, and a few flats were going for as much as $18.00. At the beginning of the month, prices per flat were as low as $10.00
A factor in lower pricing earlier this month was the timing of Mexican imports with the early season peak in domestic production. Now that the first production peak in California has gone by, supplies have come down and prices have gone up. Barring another spike in volume, current prices could last through the end of July, when the second production peak typically arrives in California.