California Strawberry Acreage Hits New Records for 2025

California strawberry growers are setting new records this year. According to the California Strawberry Commission, summer plantings, which produce fruit in the fall and early winter, have climbed to 11,503 acres. That is up 2.6% from last year and marks the largest acreage on record. Those summer acres now make up nearly 27% of the state’s total strawberry ground, which overall has risen to 42,885 acres, a 1.3% increase from 2024.

The commission says the growth in fall producing fields is a direct response to strong demand from September through November. And the trend is not stopping there. Fall planted acres, harvested in spring and summer, are expected to edge higher, up nearly 1%, with new plantings reaching 30,252 acres and second-year plantings of 1,129 acres, an increase of 166 acres from last year. That’s according to the California Farm Bureau’s Ag Alert.

That second year growth is especially noteworthy. Since 2021, second year plantings have increased more than 50%. Compared to 2018, they have surged by 600%. The commission points out that the increase is driven by the need to reduce operating costs.