A North American berry market worth approximately $10 billion is sustained by a coordinated seasonal supply structure across Mexico, the U.S., and Canada, according to Driscoll's Mexico vice president Miguel Ángel Curiel. The U.S. accounts for around $8 billion of that figure. Canada supplies primarily during summer, the U.S. covers autumn and spring, and Mexico fills the critical winter window from autumn through spring. More than 98% of Mexican berry volume stays within North America, reflecting the short shelf life constraints — strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries can have just an eight-to-ten-day window from harvest to consumption.
The regional integration has enabled year-round availability of previously seasonal items. Strawberries, for example, were largely unavailable in much of the U.S. during winter before Mexican production expanded to cover November through February. Transit times within North America of three to five days compare favorably to 15–20 days by sea to Europe and 18–35 days to Asia, limiting meaningful export diversion to those markets to a small share of Mexican volume.
The upcoming USMCA review could affect trade flows and commitments across all three countries, with food trade expected to be part of the discussions. For buyers and category managers with year-round berry programs, understanding which origin fills which seasonal window — and where trade policy could create friction — is increasingly relevant planning information.