This is the time of year when strawberries enter the market in large volumes, but the prices of similarly cultivated red strawberries from different production areas differ greatly. The price of red strawberries in Shaanxi is around 18-20 yuan [2.69-2.99 USD], while the price of strawberries in Jiangsu and Liaoning is only around 10-12 yuan [1.49-1.79 USD].
The overall strawberry price is relatively high this year. One reason is of course that strawberries are an exquisite, expensive type of fruit with high production costs, but another reason is poor weather. The overcast and rainy weather lasted days and significantly slowed down strawberry growth. In some areas the weather caused disease, which further reduced the overall production volume.
The weather in Liaoning has been poor for the last two days, including rainfall and snow. This weather also complicates storage, which further pushes the price up. The Liaoning strawberries are destined for the Beijing market, where demand is strong. This is another reason for the relatively high strawberry price. The weather recently improved and the production volume increased, which will lead to lower prices.
Another element in the price of strawberries is market competition, which is decided by two elements: product value and the relation between supply and demand for that product. The supply volume of strawberries is growing and strawberries enter the market in bulk. Strawberries also can not be kept fresh on the tree, like oranges, when they are ripe they need to be harvested and immediately transported to the market. In particular when the weather is nice, the supply volume suddenly grows, and the price comes down. This is a regular feature of the strawberry market.
