Strawberries are a globally significant fruit crop, appreciated for their flavor and nutritional content, with production measured in millions of tons annually. Supplying the consistent worldwide demand for this perishable fruit requires a vast, coordinated agricultural effort. The majority of the world’s strawberries originate from a handful of countries possessing the ideal confluence of climate, technology, and farming infrastructure. This concentration dictates the global market and seasonal availability.
Global Production Leaders
The global strawberry supply is dominated by a small number of countries, led by China. China is the largest producer of strawberries, accounting for nearly 40% of the world’s total output, with production exceeding three million tonnes annually. This massive output creates a significant disparity between China and the rest of the world. The majority of China’s cultivation is concentrated in provinces such as Shandong, Hebei, and Liaoning.
The United States is the second-largest global producer, with an output typically around 1.25 million tonnes. Within the U.S., production is focused in California, which contributes over 90% of the national crop. California’s southern and coastal regions offer a temperate climate that allows for an extended, nearly year-round growing season. Florida is the other major U.S. producer, specializing in the domestic winter crop with harvest beginning in mid-November.
Following the top two, other major contributors include Turkey, Egypt, and Mexico, all producing hundreds of thousands of tonnes annually. Mexico has significant growing regions in Baja California and Michoacán, supplying northern markets during the winter months. Spain is also a major European producer, with over 90% of its national production centered in the Huelva region.
Geographic Factors Influencing Cultivation
Commercial strawberry production is dependent on specific geographic and climatic factors that limit where large-scale farming is economically viable. Strawberries thrive in temperate climates, requiring full sun and a specific temperature range for maximum fruit production. An ideal environment includes daytime temperatures between 22 and 23 degrees Celsius and nighttime temperatures between 7 and 13 degrees Celsius.
The plants also need “chill hours,” or periods of cold dormancy, necessary for proper flower bud development and high yields. This requirement varies by cultivar type.
Because the strawberry plant has a shallow root system, extending only about 15 centimeters deep, it necessitates constant moisture and is sensitive to water availability. High-yield cultivation requires reliable irrigation systems to ensure the plants receive 300 to 450 millimeters of water during the growing season.
The preferred soil type is a deep, well-drained sandy loam with a slightly acidic pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Heavy clay soils are avoided because they lead to poor drainage and encourage the development of diseases. The combination of these precise requirements—a mild climate, specific chill periods, abundant water, and well-structured soil—explains the geographical concentration in areas like coastal California and the Mediterranean regions of Spain and Egypt.
Production Methods and Seasonal Variation
The natural growing season for strawberries is relatively short, but modern agricultural techniques maintain a year-round global supply. Strawberries are categorized by their flowering response to day length: June-bearing, which produce a concentrated crop over a two-to-three-week period, and day-neutral or everbearing varieties, which fruit repeatedly throughout the growing season. June-bearing varieties are common in traditional systems and yield the largest fruit.
To overcome seasonal limitations, many producers utilize controlled environment agriculture (CEA), such as large polytunnels and greenhouses, to extend the harvest period. The “plasticulture” system is a common commercial method where plants are grown on raised beds covered with plastic mulch. This covering warms the soil to promote earlier flowering, conserves moisture, and prevents weed growth. The use of day-neutral cultivars, particularly in mild-climate regions, allows for continuous, staggered harvests, which is a primary reason for the year-round availability of fresh strawberries.