GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW RASPBERRIES

In North America, warmer temperatures accelerated harvests and brought higher early-season volumes to market, while in South Africa, rainfall in both Morocco and the Southern Cape affected production and export dynamics. Demand for raspberries remains stable across several markets, supported by retail promotions and continued consumer interest in fresh berries, although quality variability and supply peaks continue to place pressure on pricing and market balance.Netherlands: Volatile supply and pricing"This year's raspberry market has been a real rollercoaster," says a Dutch soft fruit trader. "In March, we were still dealing with major shortages from Morocco, while availability from Spain was also very limited. Prices in Morocco rose sharply, reaching as high as €17 to €18/kg ex-works. Prices improved considerably towards the end of March. At the beginning of April, Moroccan volumes increased strongly, and prices dropped rapidly. At the same time, Spain started bringing in decent early-season volumes, which pushed prices down even further. Promotions were planned to help move the volumes through the market.""As April progressed, supply from both northern and southern Morocco remained sufficient, while Spanish volumes eased somewhat. Morocco did face some quality issues, mainly caused by delays at the border with Spain in Algeciras. This remains something of a yearly lottery, depending on when trucks are cleared to continue their journey across Europe. At the moment, southern Morocco is almost finished, while the north is experiencing a final small peak. Spain is also currently offering more volume again, and prices are falling once more. It is now important to step up promotions to help clear the incoming retail volumes."Italy: Labour shortages reduce raspberry acreageRaspberry availability is limited, and prices remain high. According to the sales director of a major Italian cooperative, raspberry production in southern Italy, particularly in Sicily, has performed well in recent weeks in terms of quality and yield per hectare. However, the Sicilian season has now come to an end.The main issue is that fewer growers are choosing to produce raspberries. According to the cooperative, labour shortages remain the main reason. Raspberries require daily harvesting, sometimes twice per day, and even smaller growing areas require a large workforce. Finding available labour is becoming increasingly difficult. Producer prices remained above €15 per kilogram throughout the marketing season.France: Import market supports seasonThe start of the French raspberry season is benefiting this year from a relatively favourable import market environment. Issues affecting Moroccan raspberries have reduced buyer interest and purchasing activity from that origin. The Spanish market is also showing weaker momentum, while Portuguese raspberries are currently trading at high prices. Together, these factors are creating favourable conditions for the launch of the French campaign.Despite this positive start, the French raspberry sector remains heavily dependent on imports, with around 85% of raspberries consumed in France sourced from abroad. The situation is further complicated by the fact that peak French consumption takes place in May, precisely when imported volumes are at their highest, rather than during the peak of domestic production. This structural imbalance reduces the visibility of French-grown raspberries and increases competitive pressure on local growers.French raspberry volumes are also expected to decline in 2026 compared with last season, mainly because a major operator did not replant this year, resulting in lower national production. While several marketers are encouraging growers to diversify into raspberries, expansion remains limited. Raspberry production is highly labour-intensive and requires considerable time and care, making planting decisions long-term commitments rather than short-term investments. As a result, growth in French raspberry acreage remains slow.Germany: Iberian supply decline supports pricesLower supplies of Iberian raspberries in calendar week 18, combined with increased demand, once again led to firmer prices. In Austrian retail, the price per kilo for Moroccan and Spanish raspberries currently stands at around €15.92 to €15.96.The start of the domestic raspberry harvest is also imminent. In the Ortenau district, among others, the first tunnel-grown raspberries of this year's season are expected within the next few days.Spain: Weather impacts supply consistencyThe 2025/2026 raspberry season has been marked by irregular production volumes due to adverse weather conditions, while field prices have remained firm at high levels. Despite weaker sales during March and April, the peak spring production period in May has so far delivered good yields and stable prices, remaining above the average levels of previous seasons.North America: Earlier harvest boosts supplyWatsonville is leading in volume, and peak supply is expected within the next few weeks. Harvesting is forecast to continue through October, with seasonal shifts in volume.The raspberry harvest in Baja California is winding down. Varieties such as Majestic began in early March, while the Adelita variety started in the second week of February. Due to warmer temperatures, the season is ending earlier than usual. In Central Mexico, raspberry harvesting is expected to continue through mid-June.Overall, supply remains steady. The main difference this season is timing, as warmer temperatures across the growing regions accelerated the harvest schedule. As a result, crops produced fruit earlier than usual, bringing volumes to the market ahead of the typical timing. Raspberry volumes have been both higher and earlier this year compared with previous seasons.Meanwhile, demand for raspberries is expected to continue rising as consumers increasingly prioritize fresh, nutrient-dense foods in their diets. Looking ahead, as volumes increase rapidly, consumers can expect strong raspberry availability for summer festivities.South Africa: Rain disrupts production prospectsHeavy rainfall in the Southern Cape is likely to disrupt raspberry farms in the region. Peak raspberry exports during weeks 46 to 5 were unaffected by the war in the Middle East. Demand for South African raspberries was supported by rainfall disrupting Morocco's harvest. The North African country is a major competitor to South Africa."South African raspberries have had a good opportunity on the export market this year," an exporter says. There was a slight increase in raspberry exports over the past three years, with 1,181 tons exported during the 2025/2026 season.During the 2024/2025 season, 75% of South Africa's raspberries were shipped to the Middle East, while the United Kingdom accounted for the remaining 25%, with smaller volumes sent to Europe and Africa. On the local market, the current kilogram price for raspberries at the Johannesburg municipal market is close to €5.Morocco: Storm losses and labour shortages impact second harvestMorocco's raspberry industry is facing major challenges in the second half of the season. The sector sustained heavy losses in northern regions between January and March due to storms and flooding, with production now expected to decline 30-40% compared to last season.The second harvest phase, which has just begun, also coincides with the Eid al-Adha holidays, creating additional difficulties in mobilising seasonal workers.In contrast, the first phase of the season, which ended on March 31, performed relatively well. Fresh raspberry exports reached 44,319 tons, compared to 45,321 tons during the same period last season, a decline of 2%. Frozen raspberry exports, meanwhile, increased 27% to 10,084 tons, up from 7,952 tons.A growers' representative also pointed to logistical bottlenecks at the port of Algeciras, where slow operations are reportedly causing delivery delays and product quality deterioration. He added that the situation has become so problematic that exporters are reluctant to ship fresh product, prompting growers to redirect raspberries toward freezing instead.Next Topic: BananasPublication date: Fri 15 May 2026© FreshPlaza.com / Stefan Jansen van Nieuwenhuizen