Imports of berries are accelerating, and U.S. strawberry growers are increasing organic output faster than conventional.
Those are two observations from a new report from the USDA.
“The Changing Landscape of U.S. Strawberry and Blueberry Markets: Production, Trade, and Challenges from 2000 to 2020,” a 38-page report from the USDA Economic Research Service, examines changes in domestic production, consumption, prices and trade for strawberries and blueberries over two decades.
“This study helps explain how the major berry markets evolved in a short time and examines opportunities and challenges these markets face,” the authors said.
The study found:
- In California, which grows more than 75% of the domestic organic production, organic strawberry acreage tripled from 2008 to 2019.
- Imports of fresh highbush blueberries increased from 44 million pounds in 2000-02 to 450 million pounds in 2018-20, which accounted for about 62% of the domestic fresh blueberry disappearance.
- The development and adoption of high-yielding strawberry varieties led to an increase in total domestic production with less acreage.
- Fresh strawberry imports increased significantly in the last two decades, particularly from Mexico. Fresh strawberries imported from Mexico reached a record high of 431 million pounds in 2020. While Mexican strawberries have an almost year-round presence in the U.S. market, approximately 85% of Mexico’s U.S.-bound shipments enter the market during the winter and spring months.
- Most strawberry exports from the U.S. are for fresh-market consumption and are shipped to Canada. Fresh strawberry exports increased 94% in volume during 2018-20 compared with 2000-20.
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