Strawberry and raspberry shipments are in peak volume with excellent quality across California’s Central Coast with Watsonville and Salinas leading production.
Plentiful volumes will be available in the coming weeks. Raspberry loadings in Oxnard and Watsonville is expected to steadily increase, supporting consistent volumes for the remainder of the season, shares shipper Gem-Pack Berries, LLC. of Irving, CA noting good availability and peak quality on strawberries from California’s Central Coast are also expected to continue as summer demand remains strong.
California is expected to harvest 43,726 acres of strawberries in 2026, a five percent increase over last year due to expanded fall plantings.
The 2026 California strawberry season has been determined by dramatic weather swings that have affected both production and prices.
Warm temperatures in February and March brought the harvest nearly three weeks earlier than usual, producing higher-than-average yields. March production reached 80 to 150 trays per acre, well above the five-year average of 30 to 70 trays. The increased supply pushed strawberry prices down to between $7 and $10 per tray during the early part of the season.
However, cooler temperatures and rain in April and May slowed production and damaged crops. Rain can cause strawberries to split, burst, and develop mold, reducing the amount of marketable fruit. As weekly volumes declined, prices rebounded to between $10 and $16 per tray, giving many growers an opportunity to recover from the earlier price drop.