California’s strawberry, blueberry, and cherry crops are all underperforming this year, despite early predictions of a productive — and, in some cases, record-breaking — season.
Blueberry production was projected to reach 88 million pounds in 2026, an all-time high that would have considerably exceeded last year’s haul of 83 million pounds. As the season now moves past its peak harvest period, though, the actual numbers are less than expected. The weather is to blame, with a mixture of heavy rain, cold temperatures, and hail all creating challenges to blueberries during this year’s crop development.
Strawberries are having a difficult year, too. Several weeks have seen the state’s processing plants receiving less than 50% of last year’s freezer-grade delivery volume. California’s unusually warm fall and early winter accelerated strawberry development in 2026, sending more fruit into the fresh market than normal. Several months later, challenging weather conditions have heavily hurt crop quality, turning what started as a surplus into a scarcity.
As for cherries, the state shipped 5.5 million 18-pound boxes this season — far below initial predictions of 10 million boxes. The weather events listed above compressed crop timing and reduced overall yields.
When the growing season gets rough or harvest time feels like a headache, we’re here to help. We have the tools, pallets, packaging, waxes, and custom-designed irrigation systems you need for your berry operation. Give us a call today, or stop by one of our supply centers.