For the week ending June 7, 2025, California processors registered 41.2 million pounds of strawberries allocated for freezing. This figure marks the peak for single-week throughput this season. However, the cumulative freezer output has reached 150.4 million pounds, presenting a 13% decrease compared to the previous year's benchmark of 173.6 million pounds, though it remains 10% above the 2023 volumes.
Recent modifications in market dynamics have illustrated a decrease in field prices, decreasing from a range of $0.68–$0.70 per pound to approximately $0.60 per pound, as recorded by the Processing Strawberry Advisory Board of California. Market feedback indicates, "We are past the peak in California and now losing ground again to last season. This trend will likely continue for the week we are currently in."
© Mintec/Expana
Participant insights reveal that pricing for Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) strawberries currently fluctuates between $1.20 and $1.30 per pound, demonstrating robust demand for frozen commodities and indicative of a near 12% price elevation from the latest reported EBP price USSMC of $1.12 per pound by May's close.
Imports continuously underpin the supply chain, significantly from Mexico, which has shipped 76.1 million pounds of finished product year-to-date. Another market observer highlighted, "Strawberry availability out of Mexico remains extremely limited; there simply isn't enough volume flowing into the market to keep pace. As a result, pricing for conventional Mexican strawberries has climbed significantly, with current offers ranging from $1.45 to $1.55 per pound.
Source: Mintec/Expana
