Berries show mixed price trends

Average fob berry prices in the U.S. declined for strawberries, blueberries and raspberries in 2022, while the average fob for blackberries climbed.

Woman holding berries. Photo: Jchizhe, Adobe Stock
Woman holding berries. Photo: Jchizhe, Adobe Stock
(Photo: Jchizhe, Adobe Stock)

Average fob berry prices in the U.S. declined for strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries in 2022, while the average fob for blackberries rose.

The average shipping point price for blueberries in the U.S. in 2022 was $19.85 per carton, down 5% from $20.82 per carton in 2021 and down 1% from 2020, according to USDA numbers.

Meanwhile, the average advertised retail promotion price for blueberries was $1.92 in 2022, up 7% from $1.80 in 2021 and up 12% from $1.71 in 2020. The number of retail stores with blueberry promotions reported by the USDA totaled 964,054 in 2022, down from 1.05 million in 2021.

Average annual blueberry fob prices, as reported by the USDA:

  • 2015: $21.57
  • 2016: $20.11
  • 2017: $21.07
  • 2018: $20.65
  • 2019: $18.07
  • 2020: $20.04
  • 2021: $20.82
  • 2022: $19.85

The average fob price for strawberries in 2022 was $16.71 per carton, down 3% from $17.18 per carton in 2021 but up 6% from $15.82 per carton in 2020.

The average retail promoted price for strawberries in 2022 was $2.11, up 5% from $2.01 in 2021. The number of strawberry promotions in retail stores for 833,952 in 2022, down 4% from 867,040 in 2021.

Average annual strawberry fob prices:

  • 2015: $16.28
  • 2016: $16.06
  • 2017: $14.83
  • 2018: $14.48
  • 2019: $15.95
  • 2020: $15.82
  • 2021: $17.18
  • 2022: $16.71

The average raspberry price for 2022 was $14.09 per carton, down 21% compared with $17.45 per carton in 2021 and down 10% from $15.72 per carton in 2020.

The average promoted retail price for raspberries was $1.72, up 5% from $1.64 in 2021. The number of retail stores promoting raspberries totaled 597,598 in 2022, down 5% from 630,702 in 2021.

Average annual raspberry fob prices:

  • 2015: $16.22
  • 2016: $18.32
  • 2017: $16.57
  • 2018: $17.29
  • 2019: $16.52
  • 2020: $15.72
  • 2021: $17.45
  • 2022: $14.09

The UDSA reported that the average fob for blackberries was $13.94 per carton in 2022, up 4% from $13.41 per carton in 2021 and up 19% from $11.70 per carton in 2021.

The average retail advertised price for blackberries in 2022 was $1.64, up 4% from 2021. The number of retail promotions for blackberries in 2022 was 695,390, up 6% from 2021.

Average annual fob blackberry prices:

  • 2015: $15.42
  • 2016: $13.57
  • 2017: $12.70
  • 2018: $11.95
  • 2019: $13.17
  • 2020: $11.70
  • 2021; $13.41
  • 2022: $13.94

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