Strawberry Market Steady Out of California; Gem-Pack Berries' Michelle Deleissegues Comments

CALIFORNIA - The USDA National FOB Review issued September 2, 2026, states that demand in the strawberry category is good and the market is about steady. Fall berries are on their way, but the strawberry market will experience a small gap in supply beforehand.

“There has been more restricted than usual strawberry volume the past two weeks, due to unexpected weather and temperature inconsistencies, but we see supplies ramping up again as fall berries enter the market,” Michelle Deleissegues, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Gem-Pack Berries, told AndNowUKnow.

Out of Salinas and Watsonville, California, the USDA reports pricing as follows:

• Conventional flats 8 1 lb containers with lids: medium 14.00-20.00, mostly 16.00-18.00, occasionally higher and lower
• Organic flats 8 1 lb containers with lids: medium 18.00-22.00, mostly 18.00-20.00, occasionally higher and lower

Strawberry pricing out of Santa Maria, California, is reported below:

• Conventional flats 8 1 lb containers with lids: medium 16.00-22.00, mostly 18.00-20.00 (wide range in prices), occasionally lower
• Organic flats 8 1 lb containers with lids: medium 22.00-26.00 (wide range in prices), occasionally lower

As fall berries begin hitting shelves and the strawberry market shifts, ANUK will be here reporting the latest.