Summary (Mostly from the California Strawberry Commission)

• California grows about 88% of all the berries grown in the U.S. 
• There are about 300 strawberry growers in California. 
• There are about 34,000 acres of strawberries in California. 
• Berries are grown in California’s unique coastal environment, which provides moderate temperatures with warm-sunny days, cool-foggy nights, and (typically) predictable rainfall.
• Average yields are about 50,000 pounds per acre each season. 
• In 2017, there were 206,040,481 trays (1.8 billion pounds) of fresh strawberries harvested in California. 
• Average costs at final harvest are between $40,000 to $50,000
• California Strawberries are grown in five distinct growing areas: Orange County/San Diego, Oxnard/Ventura, Santa Maria/Southern SLO County and Santa Maria. 
• Production starts in the South in the winter and shifts northward as temperatures heat up during the spring. This ensures that California strawberries are available to consumers year-round
• New berry varieties have lengthened the number of days in the growing season to even out year-round production, improved shipping quality, while increasing the flavor!