Mexico Raspberry Guide

Russia, Mexico, and Serbia were the largest producers of raspberry in 2018, with Russia ranking first with an average of 165.80K MT of production followed by Mexico with 130.19K MT of production, and Serbia coming at the third spot with an average of 127.01K MT of production. Poland and the United States became the top four and five producers with Poland’s production amounts of 115.61K MT and the United States’ production amounts of 99.25K MT.

The Mexican raspberry industry is mainly integrated by large international production companies (Ej: Driscoll's), which won their own farms and worked on a yearly contract base with large and medium producers. These companies provide production support to their contracted producers and commit to acquire all of their yearly production.

In terms of sales, most of these companies have their own commercial trading area, which allocate the product in the domestic market and in the international market by their own international offices (Mainly in the US).

While Driscoll makes up 70% of the market share for Mexican raspberry production, the following suppliers dominate the remaining share:

- Horifruit S.A. de C.V.

- Planasa

- Berrymex S. de R.L. de C.V.

- Expoberries S.A. de C.V.

- California Giant Berry Farms

- Del Campo y Asociados S.A. de C.V.

- Berries Paradise S.A. Promotora de Inversion de C.V.

- Naturberry

- RCG Fruits

- Splendor Produce S. de R. L. de C.V.

- SunOpta

- Optimal Brightness

- Corporativo Agroindustrial Altex, S.A. DE C.V.

- Cofrusa

- Fresh Kampo

- Frunatural S. de R.L. de C.V.

- Latin Berry Plants S.P.R. de R.L. de C.V.

Spain, Mexico, and the United States were the top exporters of raspberry in 2021 among others. Spain had an export value of USD 520.59M with an export quantity of around 75.57K MT, followed by Mexico with an export value of USD 402.27M and export quantity of around 98.21K MT, and for the third spot, the United States had an export value of USD 354.79M and quantity around 47.61K MT.

Morocco and Portugal were the top four and five exporters. Morocco’s export value of USD 250.92M and export quantity of around 36.72K MT, followed by Portugal with an export value of USD 237.33M and quantity of around 29.95K MT. 

Importers of Mexican raspberries in 2021:

1. USA - 91.7%

2. Italy - 1.3%

3. Netherlands - 1.2%

4. United Kingdom - 0.7%

5. UAE  - 0.5% 

The main varieties of exported raspberries from Mexico include Maravilla, Adelita, Diamond, Jubilee, and Esperanza.

These are the reported figures for the volume of Mexican raspberries produced in Jalisco, Michoacan, and Baja California in 2020.

1. Jalisco - 104,080 MT

2. Michoacan - 28,894 MT

3. Baja California - 10,222 MT

Other production regions include Colima, Hidalgo, Puebla, and State of Mexico.

Mexico's raspberry season extends between September and May, with small volumes also being produced and exported in June, July, and August. While seasonality and export timeline differs slightly by region, conventional raspberries are generally produced between September and May, and organic raspberries are produced between October and April.

The demand for Mexican raspberries in the US as well as Europe and Asia is increasing annually and thus, the national berry industry is expected to see continuous growth for the next decade. This growing demand can be attributed to consumer preference shift toward fresh fruit (especially after the outbreak of COVID) from canned or frozen produce. Since 2018, Mexico has experienced export volume increasing by at least 15% YoY. In the first half of 2021 alone, raspberry exports rose by 8%, and investment in the regions of Colima, Hidalgo, Puebla, and State of Mexico has expanded. Driscoll's - Mexico's largest supplier - is planning on doubling their plantation in the 2022 year to expand volume for exports. 

Mexico's biggest producing competitors for raspberry are Russia, Serbia, Spain, Poland and the USA. In export value terms, the top competitors are Spain, USA, Portugal, and Morocco.