Whether grown outside or in a greenhouse, 2024 was a big year for Canadian strawberries.
Thanks to better spring growing conditions, Canadian farmers produced 25 907 tonnes of fresh strawberries in 2024, the highest amount since 26 446 tonnes were produced in 2019.
The 2024 production was an increase of 3 892 tonnes from 2023—more than two-thirds (68.8%) of which was in Quebec. In 2023, wet weather in Quebec drove nationwide production to a low not seen since 2013 (21 902 tonnes).
Every other province also recorded a production increase in 2024, except for Saskatchewan, which recorded a marginal decrease.
Nationally, the turnaround from 2023 to 2024 was also the largest annual production increase since 2002, when we started tracking the current fresh strawberries production series.
Production hit an all-time high of 28 372 tonnes in 2017; the next-highest levels were recorded in 2018 (27 042 tonnes) and 2016 (26 548 tonnes).
Cultivated area ticks back up
Nationwide, there were 8,368 acres cultivated to produce fresh strawberries in 2024, up slightly (+0.7%) from the all-time low of 8,313 acres cultivated in 2023. The 2024 area represented 2.4% of the total area for all fruits grown.
However, the cultivated area for fresh strawberries has declined over time, going from 16,902 acres in 1996 (beginning of the current data series) to 12,045 acres in 2006 and 10,155 acres in 2016. Since then, 2021 (10,129 acres) has been the only year during which this area reached 10,000 acres or more.
Greenhouse production nearly triples over five years
We started tracking greenhouse production of strawberries in 2020, when close to 2.6 million kilograms were produced, with a farm gate value of $15.5 million. In 2024, this number nearly tripled to more than 7.5 million kilograms, valued at $75.2 million.
The largest annual increase in greenhouse production of strawberries was in 2022, when the 5.0 million kilograms produced was up 84.6% from 2021. Annual increases slowed in 2023 (+35.5%) and 2024 (+10.1%).
The total area dedicated to growing strawberries in greenhouses has increased each year, rising from 303 791 square metres in 2020 to 839 756 square metres in 2024.
📲 Looking for more? Staying informed has never been easier!
Follow the “Agriculture and food” subject in the StatsCAN app to receive personalized updates and stay connected with the most recent articles, reports and analyses.
Contact information
For more information, contact the Statistical Information Service (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).