The global strawberry industry represents a significant agricultural sector with production spanning across multiple continents and climate zones. According to 2022 data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the world’s strawberry production shows interesting patterns of concentration and specialization. This analysis examines the key producers and what their dominance means for global markets and agricultural trends.
Top 20 Strawberry-Producing Countries (2022) 🌍🍓
| Rank | Country | Production (t) |
|---|---|---|
| 1️⃣ | 🇨🇳 China | 3,354,804 |
| 2️⃣ | 🇺🇸 United States | 1,261,890 |
| 3️⃣ | 🇹🇷 Türkiye | 728,112 |
| 4️⃣ | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 637,842 |
| 5️⃣ | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 568,272 |
| 6️⃣ | 🇪🇸 Spain | 325,880 |
| 7️⃣ | 🇷🇺 Russia | 254,800 |
| 8️⃣ | 🇵🇱 Poland | 199,400 |
| 9️⃣ | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 192,889 |
| 🔟 | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 183,923 |
| 11 | 🇯🇵 Japan | 164,431 |
| 12 | 🇩🇪 Germany | 133,140 |
| 13 | 🇲🇦 Morocco | 132,297 |
| 14 | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 119,143 |
| 15 | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 113,949 |
| 16 | 🇮🇹 Italy | 100,680 |
| 17 | 🇬🇷 Greece | 99,640 |
| 18 | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 87,080 |
| 19 | 🇧🇾 Belarus | 81,984 |
| 20 | 🇫🇷 France | 78,490 |
China’s Overwhelming Dominance
China stands as the undisputed global leader in strawberry production, generating an astounding 3,354,804 tonnes in 2022. This figure is more than 2.5 times the production of the second-place United States, highlighting China’s massive agricultural capacity. China’s dominance in strawberry cultivation demonstrates its strategic emphasis on high-value crops and its ability to leverage extensive agricultural land and labor resources.
Key Regional Players
The United States holds a solid second position with 1,261,890 tonnes of strawberry production. The gap between the US and China (over 2 million tonnes) illustrates the scale difference between these two agricultural powerhouses.
Türkiye emerges as the third-largest producer with 728,112 tonnes, followed closely by Egypt with 637,842 tonnes. These Mediterranean/Middle Eastern nations benefit from favorable growing conditions for strawberries and have developed significant expertise in berry cultivation, likely aimed at both domestic consumption and export markets, particularly to Europe.
Mexico rounds out the top five with 568,272 tonnes, leveraging its proximity to the US market and climatic advantages to become a major producer.
European Representation
Several European countries feature prominently in global strawberry production:
- Spain leads European production with 325,880 tonnes, benefiting from its warm Mediterranean climate
- Poland (199,400 tonnes) represents significant production in Eastern Europe
- Germany (133,140 tonnes), United Kingdom (119,143 tonnes), Italy (100,680 tonnes), Greece (99,640 tonnes), Netherlands (87,080 tonnes), and France (78,490 tonnes) all contribute substantially to Europe’s strong presence in strawberry markets
The Netherlands’ appearance on this list is particularly notable given its small geographic size, highlighting its advanced agricultural technology and greenhouse production systems.
Asian Producers Beyond China
While China dominates Asian production, South Korea (192,889 tonnes) and Japan (164,431 tonnes) also rank among the world’s top producers, demonstrating the importance of strawberry cultivation across East Asia. These countries often focus on premium varieties and have developed specialized cultivation techniques.
Emerging Producers
Several countries that might not immediately be associated with strawberry production show significant output:
- Morocco (132,297 tonnes) has developed substantial berry production, likely targeting European export markets
- Colombia (113,949 tonnes) represents emerging South American production alongside Brazil (183,923 tonnes)
- Belarus (81,984 tonnes) demonstrates that even countries with less favorable climates can develop significant strawberry industries, likely through protected cultivation
Agricultural and Economic Implications
This distribution of production highlights several key aspects of global strawberry cultivation:
- Climate adaptability: Strawberries are grown across diverse climatic zones, from temperate to Mediterranean regions
- Technology’s role: Many leading producers utilize advanced growing techniques, from hydroponics to climate-controlled environments
- Export orientation: Several smaller countries produce volumes that exceed domestic consumption needs, indicating export-focused industries
- Value addition: As a high-value crop, strawberries represent an opportunity for agricultural diversification and income enhancement
The global strawberry market continues to grow as consumer demand for fresh berries increases, driven by health consciousness and year-round availability made possible by global trade networks.
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 2022 data