Washington State's raspberry industry is formally backing a letter urging U.S. trade negotiators to prioritize specialty crops during the upcoming USMCA review. The push comes as lower-priced imports — primarily from Mexico — and rising domestic production costs are squeezing growers to the point where long-term viability is in question.
Washington produces the majority of U.S. fresh and processed raspberries, and the sector has been under sustained margin pressure. The USMCA review is scheduled for 2026 and represents one of the few near-term policy windows where specialty crop protections could realistically be strengthened. This is the industry trying to get ahead of negotiations before the process locks in.
Buyers and category managers sourcing domestic raspberries should watch this space closely — the outcome of USMCA talks could meaningfully shift the long-term supply landscape for the category.