The U.S. Department of Commerce announced a preliminary affirmative determination on August 18, 2026, finding that Mexican winter strawberry exporters sold their product below fair value. A preliminary dumping margin of 4.83% was set for most Mexican exporters, the result of an investigation launched December 31, 2025, at the request of Florida growers.
This is a landmark moment for the domestic strawberry industry, which has long argued that cheap Mexican imports undercut their pricing during the critical winter window. Mexico's Secretariat of Economy responded by expressing "serious concern" over the ruling, signaling this dispute is far from settled. The investigation began after Florida growers formally petitioned Commerce, citing injury from below-market pricing.
Watch for downstream effects on winter strawberry pricing at retail — if duties are finalized, buyers sourcing from Mexico could face higher landed costs. This is also worth monitoring for anyone managing strawberry programs heading into the November–March season, when Mexican supply dominates the market.