Extended California Strawberry Season Strains Mexican Growers
Increased supply from California and El Niño weather patterns drive down prices for Mexican strawberry producers.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Organic Food
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As of October 2026, an unusually long strawberry growing season in California has led to falling market prices for Mexican growers. Concurrently, El Niño weather conditions have introduced high humidity, which has significantly reduced the shelf life of the fruit.
Why it matters
The market instability is driven by the extended overlap of California production and challenging climate conditions. These factors have forced producers to navigate reduced profitability while managing the logistics of shorter produce longevity.
Mexican strawberry prices hit a low of 170 pesos per 4-kilo box as supply gluts persisted. Casher Fruits reported handling 2,200 tons of berries across four categories last year.
The players
Casher Fruits
This agricultural firm operates across international markets, handling over 1 million boxes of produce annually.
The details
Growers are actively switching to more productive strawberry varieties with higher yields to combat pricing pressures. Field monitors are currently providing guidance and staff training to help operations adapt to these shifting market and climate dynamics.
Timeline
September through March is the central Mexican strawberry growing season.
March to early June marks Casher Fruits operations in Baja California.
March to early September covers Casher Fruits work with California commercial partners.
Culture Shift
This market disruption reflects the ongoing struggle of agricultural producers against the 2015-2016 El Niño event, which set the precedent for major climate-driven crop volatility. The industry continues to evolve as growers prioritize resilient varieties to maintain profitability in a volatile global supply chain.
Consumers may notice fluctuating prices for strawberries in retail markets as suppliers adjust to shifts in production timing. Shoppers should expect potential variations in the shelf life of berries due to the environmental factors affecting recent harvests.
The takeaway
Growers and distributors are increasingly relying on diversified sourcing, such as importing blueberries from Washington and Oregon, to stabilize year-round supply. Implementing staff training and adopting higher-yield crop varieties remains a vital strategy for long-term viability.
Further reading
Explore more about supply chain dynamics in the Organic Food section.
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