Despite the continuing decline in the strawberry production in Georgia, this year’s prices may even be lower than usual. Usually, strawberries appear on the Georgian market at the end of March. At the beginning of the season, mainly berries imported from neighboring Turkey are sold. Georgian strawberries appear on the market at the end of April. Then, the strawberry season usually lasts until the end of November.
Although imports are continuous throughout the year, about 70% of imports are from the end of March to June, when the local strawberry season hits the market. This means that local production cannot fully meet the seasonally increased demand.
An article on east-fruit.com poses that, since demand is higher than supply, it would seem that strawberry production in Georgia should grow. However, it is decreasing. The declared price of imported strawberries in February 2021 (the period of the highest prices) was $0.40/kg. Data for March has not been published yet, but traditionally the price of imported berries declines in March by 15–20%, and in April it is 50–60% of March prices.
Farmers expect the Georgian strawberry season to start in late April – early May (weeks 17-18). First, products from local tunnels greenhouses will appear on the market, and mass harvesting in the open field will begin in the second half of May.
