Southeast strawberry growers continue to be threatened by fresh strawberry imports from other countries, mainly Mexico. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service Situation and Outlook Report, fresh strawberry import volume increased 4% in 2023, from 564 million pounds to 589 million pounds. It marked the fifth straight year that import volumes have increased.
The nominal value of imports also increased, from $1.08 billion to $1.18 billion. It marked the third year that fresh strawberry imports were valued at more than $1 billion.
About 11.5% of fresh strawberry import volume in 2023 was organic, comparable to 2022.
Approximately 20% of the fresh strawberries available in the U.S. were imported, compared to just 10% during the early 2000s, and about 98% of strawberry imports originate in Mexico.
Fresh strawberry export volumes also increased at 4%, up 11 million pounds to 292 million pounds in 2023; with 6% of fresh strawberry exports classified as organic. Fresh strawberry exports were also valued at $529 million. In 2023, 88% of fresh strawberry exports were bound for Canada (67%) and Mexico (21%).
While imports of fresh strawberries increased, frozen strawberry import volumes dropped for the second straight year following record high volumes in 2021. In 2023, 355 million pounds of frozen strawberries were imported, a 9% decrease from 2022. Most frozen import volume originates from Mexico (54%) and Chile (13%).