Homegrown strawberries are selling for $17 or even $9 a basket in Canada, shocking consumers. Imported berries from the U.S. and Mexico have also risen in price. According to the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, the average retail price for a 454-gram package of strawberries hit $5.73 in June, a 4.9% increase from May.
Double-digit increases in some cities
Toronto saw the biggest monthly jump at 12.6%, with prices averaging $6.18. Charlottetown followed with a 10.4% increase ($6.24), and Winnipeg rose 5.8% ($5.90). Overall, berry prices (including cherries) increased 2.1% year-over-year in May, according to recent inflation data.
Why are strawberries so expensive?
The lab cited several factors: softer-than-usual California production due to weather and supply issues, local crops still ramping up, and strong demand. Sylvain Charlebois, director of the lab, noted that a weaker Canadian dollar is impacting importers' buying power. “We’re hardwired to look for strawberries in June, and grocers know that. So, there’s a bit of a premium that actually comes along with strawberry demand when consuming strawberries in June and early July. So basically, it has nothing to do with costs. It has more to do with consumer pressures,” said Charlebois. “Grocers will actually set prices based on what they think the market can bear.”
Local vs. imported quality
Charlebois emphasized that price comparisons between local and imported strawberries are often unfair due to quality differences. “I would say price comparisons are likely unfair because the quality is very different. You’re not getting the same product. It may look nice, but it may not taste the same, and the only way to taste it is to actually buy the thing,” he said. “But I would give any local strawberries a second look, even though it may be a little bit more expensive.” Local berries are typically harvested ripe and juicy, while imported ones are picked early for transport. Scale, seasonality, labour, and production costs also affect local prices.
Impact on consumers
With strawberry season at its peak, paying nearly $20 for local field-grown berries amid rising food inflation may seem extreme. Charlebois noted that farmers are trying to increase domestic production through two harvest cycles, and some greenhouses in Quebec now produce strawberries year-round.
