In W35 in the strawberry landscape, in the United States (US), the Governor of California has signed an executive order to expedite the recovery efforts in the central coast region following devastating floods in March. These recovery initiatives, including levee repairs and debris removal, aim to protect and prepare local communities for potential future wet seasons. The flooding significantly impacted the strawberry industry, causing crop, property, and equipment damage. While recovery continues, California's strawberry crop and supply remain robust, with ongoing harvests providing fresh strawberries year-round.
In the province of Tucumán, Argentina, despite weather challenges, including heavy rains and disease outbreaks, Tucumán maintains its position as the second-largest strawberry-producing province in Argentina. The region faces concerns over the impact of climate events on its primary fruit harvest and may need to reconsider protective measures like macro-tunnels. The remainder of the 2023/24 campaign is forecasted to see a significant production peak between September and October, potentially affecting fresh strawberry prices.
The province of Huelva in Spain continues to dominate strawberry cultivation, accounting for 97% of the country's total strawberry production in 2023, with nearly 350 thousand tons harvested. Huelva has a long-standing tradition of strawberry farming, and although production levels have fluctuated over the years due to weather-related factors, production remains consistently high. In 2015, Huelva reached its peak production of 388.89 thousand tons. Despite a drop in 2020 due to the pandemic, the region has maintained a stable production level of around 350 thousand tons per year, with 349.12 thousand tons produced until W35.
Furthermore, in the 2022/23 Spanish strawberry campaign, the average wholesale price in the Andalucía market increased by 20.8% compared to the previous campaign, reaching USD 2.09 per kilogram (EUR 1.95/kg). However, the 2023/24 campaign saw higher production costs due to increased material costs caused by the Ukraine conflict, impacting overall pricing. Weather conditions played a significant role in production and distribution, with February and May experiencing adverse conditions, resulting in notable supply losses compared to the previous year. While the strawberry cultivation area in Andalucía, particularly in Huelva, increased by 0.2%, overall production saw a slight 0.6% increase, indicating stable cultivation and production levels.
