In W30 in the strawberry landscape, the Santa Barbara County's Agricultural Commissioner's Office of the United States (US) released a report indicating that agriculture is the largest producing industry in the region, with a gross production value of USD 1.93 billion in 2022. Strawberries maintained their position as the top county crop, valued at USD 810.92 million, due to increased acreage and yield. The demand for strawberries has risen, driven by their popularity in various products. Furthermore, strawberry growers in California, US, have experienced a challenging season due to slow initial growth caused by cool weather and excessive wetness. Despite the sluggish start, the California Strawberry Commission reported total production of approximately 109 million trays of strawberries as of July 8. While weekly shipments have returned to normal, it's unlikely that the total season volume will match the previous year's. Quality improved as the season progressed, allowing for an extended harvesting period. Inflation and rising input costs have presented economic pressures for growers, and the strong demand in supermarkets has remained steady.
The berry production sector in Mexico, particularly in states like Jalisco, faces a significant deficit of up to 65 thousand day laborers. The labor shortage, ranging from 10% to 15%, is due to competition with Canada and the US for Mexican labor. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Mexico has 19.93 thousand hectares (ha) of cultivated strawberries. On the other hand, the Regional Governor of Maule, Chile, has provided the Institute of Agricultural Development (INDAP-GORE) incentives to 268 small strawberry farmers in the communes of Chanco and Pelluhue. The project aims to support farmers against challenges such as high fertilizer prices, market issues, and phytosanitary problems. The initiative addresses the impact of the strawberry nematode plague, with an investment of USD 3.27 thousand (CLP 2.78 million) over a two-year term (2023-2024). Strawberry producers in the province of Jujuy, Argentina, have initiated the harvest and sale of strawberries, with complications due to low temperatures affecting their size and growth. The Emilce variety stood at USD 14.38-16.18/box (ARS 4,000-4,500/box), while other varieties were priced at USD 17.98-21.58/crate (ARS 5,000-6,000/crate).
Lastly, the Federal Statistical Office of Germany reported that the projected 2023 strawberry harvest is anticipated to be lower than in 2022. German farms expect a yield of approximately 84.70 metric tons (mt) of strawberries from open fields, a decrease of 14% compared to the 2022 harvest of 98.50 thousand mt and a decline of 23% compared to the average harvest from 2017 to 2022 with 110.40 thousand mt. Several contributing factors include a 7% reduction in the cultivated areas for productive field strawberries compared to 2022, increased production costs, reduced demand, and a delayed start to the harvest due to a relatively cool spring.
