Surging demand and higher prices fuel organic strawberry expansion in California

Organic strawberry farmers are steadily growing more organic strawberries. According to a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) report, the category is expanding faster than traditional production in California, the largest strawberry-growing state in the US.

It comes as no surprise that the Golden State also produces 75 percent of the nation’s organic strawberries. Chris Christian, Vice President of Market Insights at the California Strawberry Commission, reports that from 2024 to 2025, the volume and value of organic strawberries jumped by 16 percent and 14 percent, respectively. 

And this upward momentum shows no signs of slowing.

“Sales in US supermarkets have grown at a double-digit pace this past year,” Christian said. “Demand for organic strawberries has been increasing and is expected to continue rising year over year.”

Growers are drawn to organic strawberries for several reasons. This method consistently commands higher prices than its conventional counterpart, and surging consumer demand for organic fruit has inspired many growers to expand the acreage dedicated to the category.

Growers increasingly bet on organic strawberries 

Daniel Nelson, owner of California-based organic berry crop supplier Innovative Organic Nursery, says the organic strawberries account for 95 percent of the nursery’s business, and sales have increased year-over-year.

The company, which sells berry plants grown in commercial nurseries using organic methods, was founded in 2016 and has continued to expand as demand from farmers has increased—along with prices.

“From about 2020 to 2026, we’ve steadily increased the price year over year by three to five percent,” Nelson said.

He explained that, as long as the economics of the organic category are healthy for growers, they will continue to gravitate toward buying organic plants and growing their berries in the same way.

Nelson points out that the organic industry has successfully positioned itself as the healthier choice for shoppers. With wellness trends sweeping through every aisle, products grown naturally and without chemicals are flourishing.

“Consumption on the organic side is driven by real wages and people wanting clean, healthy food, and so I think the organic industry has done a good job of explaining, from their perspective, that they're providing a high-quality, more environmentally-sustainable product,” he adds. 

Nelson also says that the expansion of the category benefits consumers, as increased supply leads to more affordable prices, unlocking new audiences and larger purchases. 

“That cycle continues to drive growth,” he added

The berry business in general is thriving, he explains, but organics have done a particularly good job at incorporating technology and stabilizing quality, which has really led to sales growth.

“The organic consumer usually wants to buy regardless of the price, but innovation in quality and better-tasting strawberries have been a great driver for the organic strawberry space,” he concluded. 

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