California Strawberry Market at a Turning Point: Slowing Volumes, Rising IQF Prices

For the week ending June 7, 2025, California processors reported 41.2 million pounds of strawberries for freezing—the largest single-week volume so far this season. However, cumulative freezer production now totals 150.4 million pounds, which is 13% behind the same point last year (173.6 million pounds) but still 10% ahead of 2023 levels.

Market conditions have shifted in recent weeks with a notable drop in field prices, falling from $0.68–$0.70 per pound down to approximately $0.60 per pound as reported by the Processing Strawberry Advisory Board of California. Expana market participants commented that, “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.”

Notably, several market participants have recently reported hearing pricing for Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) strawberries is currently ranging between $1.20 and $1.30 per pound, reflecting firm demand for frozen products and a price increase of around 12% from the last reported EBP price USSMC (customer access only) of $1.12lb at the end of May.

Imports have remained a critical part of total supply, particularly from Mexico, which has shipped 76.1 million pounds of finished product so far this year. “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 have firmed significantly, with current offers landing in the range of $1.45 to $1.55 per pound,” stated another Expana market participant.

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