US Berry Import Trends 2026 — Strawberries, Blueberries & Raspberries

Over the past decade, Mexico has quietly transformed itself into the berry basket of the United States. What was once a seasonal supplement to California's domestic production is now a year-round supply pipeline. Mexico is the US's top foreign supplier of fresh strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries — and its share of the market grows every year.

For produce buyers, understanding berry import trends isn't optional anymore. The seasonal windows, regional origins, and supply chain dynamics of Mexican berry imports directly affect pricing, availability, and competitive positioning across US retail and foodservice.

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Strawberry Imports — Season and Volume

Mexican strawberries have become a staple of the US winter market. Baja California (the Ensenada/San Quintin corridor) and Sinaloa are the two primary growing regions, together producing hundreds of thousands of tons annually for export.

• Peak import season (December--April): This is when California's domestic strawberry production is at its lowest. Mexican strawberries fill the gap, supplying retailers, foodservice distributors, and club stores across the country. Volume peaks in February and March.

• Transition months (May--June): As California's Salinas Valley and Watsonville regions ramp up production, Mexican import volume tapers off. Pricing can be volatile during the overlap as buyers shift between sources.

• Summer--fall (July--November): California dominates the US market. Mexican strawberry imports drop to minimal levels, though some Baja producers maintain limited year-round operations.

The competitive dynamic between Mexican imports and California production is the defining feature of the US strawberry market. Labor costs, water availability, and regulatory pressures in California have steadily pushed more acreage to Mexico, particularly to Baja California where proximity to the border keeps logistics costs low.

You can track weekly berry FOB prices on ProduceTradeIQ to see how the Mexico-California pricing dynamic plays out across seasons.

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Blueberry Imports from Mexico

Mexican blueberry production has exploded in the past five years, with Jalisco emerging as one of the most important blueberry-growing regions in the Western Hemisphere. The state's highland climate — moderate temperatures, adequate rainfall, and altitude — produces excellent fruit quality during a window that perfectly complements the US domestic season.

• Peak Mexican blueberry season (October--March): Jalisco's harvest fills the US market during a period when domestic production (Michigan, New Jersey, Georgia, Oregon) is completely offline. Chile and Peru compete for winter supply, but Mexico's proximity gives it a logistics advantage.

• Emerging year-round production: Some Jalisco operations are pushing into spring and summer production with protected agriculture, threatening to extend the competitive window against domestic growers.

The blueberry import market is notable for its rapid growth. US blueberry consumption has roughly doubled in the past decade, driven by health-conscious consumers, and Mexican supply has been the primary beneficiary of that demand growth.

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Raspberry & Blackberry Trends

Baja California is the unquestioned center of Mexican raspberry and blackberry production for export. The region around Ensenada produces the vast majority of berries shipped to the US, with a growing segment of organic production.

• Raspberry peak (October--May): Mexican raspberries fill the winter and spring market. Driscoll's, the dominant berry brand in the US, sources heavily from Baja California operations. Volume peaks January through March.

• Blackberry niche: A smaller volume category but growing quickly. Mexican blackberries serve both retail and foodservice, with organic blackberries commanding premium pricing.

• Organic growth: The organic berry segment from Mexico is expanding faster than conventional. Baja California's relative isolation from industrial agriculture and growing adoption of organic certification make it a natural fit. Organic raspberries and blackberries from Mexico often command 40--60% premiums over conventional.

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Who Are the Major Berry Importers?

The US berry import market is dominated by several buyer profiles:

Vertically integrated brand companies like Driscoll's, Naturipe, and Well-Pict control significant volume through owned or contracted Mexican operations. These companies manage the entire chain from farm to retail shelf.

National distributors such as Fresh Del Monte, Dole, and Taylor Farms import berries as part of broader produce portfolios. They source from multiple Mexican suppliers and distribute through their existing logistics networks.

Club store and retail direct buyers — Costco, Walmart, and Kroger all import berries directly or through dedicated supplier programs. Their volume is massive and concentrated during peak season.

Regional wholesalers and brokers handle the distribution gap, sourcing from Mexican packers and serving independent grocery chains, foodservice operators, and specialty retailers.

ProduceTradeIQ tracks every berry shipment crossing the US-Mexico border. You can search berry importers to see any company's import volume, supplier relationships, and shipment frequency.

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Track Berry Shipment Data in Real Time

Whether you're sourcing berries for a retail program, benchmarking your import operation against competitors, or identifying new Mexican suppliers, ProduceTradeIQ provides the data you need:

• Importer profiles: Search berry importers by name and see their shipment history, top suppliers, and volume trends.
• Supplier discovery: Identify which Mexican packers are shipping the most berries and who they supply in the US.
• Competitive monitoring: Track when competitors shift between suppliers, add new origins, or increase volume.
• Pricing intelligence: Berry FOB prices from USDA Market News, updated daily across major US markets.
• Shipment records: Individual berry shipment records with dates, weights, product descriptions, and border crossing ports.

All data comes from official CBP customs records and USDA Market News, updated weekly.

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Looking Ahead

The trajectory is clear: Mexico's share of the US berry market will continue to grow. Jalisco blueberries, Baja raspberries, and Sinaloa strawberries are now structural features of US produce supply — not seasonal alternatives.

For buyers, this means Mexican supplier relationships are more important than ever. And for anyone competing in the berry space, visibility into who's buying what, from whom, and at what volume is a competitive necessity.

Start your free trial on ProduceTradeIQ to track berry imports, monitor competitors, and stay ahead of seasonal supply shifts.

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Data context: US Census Bureau import statistics, USDA Market News pricing, CBP customs records via ProduceTradeIQ. Volume trends based on 2024--2026 data.