TL;DR:
If frozen berries are a key part of your product line—think smoothies, sauces, purées, desserts, or retail pouches—2025 is shaping up to be a high-stakes year. Weather extremes have dramatically impacted yield across Europe, and pricing is responding accordingly. If you haven’t secured your volume yet, now’s the time.
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Climate, Crops & Consequences
This year’s berry market is a textbook case of climate volatility. Spring frosts in Serbia and Ukraine, a scorching summer in Poland, and labor shortages in Sweden have converged to squeeze global supply just as buyers begin planning for holiday and new-year production runs.
Whether you buy whole berries, crumble, or purée—expect increased competition for limited volumes.
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Raspberries: Low Yields, High Demand
Serbia and Poland both faced yield setbacks this year due to cold snaps and dry spells. As a result, supply is limited across both whole and crumble grades.
What this means: If your SKUs rely on raspberries for texture, color, or clean-label claims, early sourcing will be critical. Supply is expected to tighten further as we move into Q4.
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Sour Cherries: Uneven Across the Region
Poland’s cherry crop held steady—but Serbia and Hungary fell short. This imbalance is already pushing demand across the region, especially as processors begin locking in volumes for year-end production.
Takeaway: Even with some regional strength, the overall picture remains tight. Expect pricing pressure to continue across the board.
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Wild Blueberries: Frosted Out
Ukraine, a key player in wild blueberries, was hit hard by spring frost. Many producers skipped the season entirely. Other origins, like Sweden, offered some relief—but labor shortages capped what could be harvested.
Why it matters: If wild blueberries are on your label for 2026 innovation or current retail SKUs, prepare for limited availability and elevated cost across formats.
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Blackberries: Stable—but Shifting
Compared to other berries, blackberries are showing more stability. Still, heat and drought in some growing regions have impacted both quality and consistency.
Our advice: If consistency matters—especially for purée or processed formats—early booking is your best move.
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What To Do Now
• Book Early: Contracts are already closing. Waiting could cost more than just price.
• Explore Alternatives: Consider flexible formats (purée, diced, crumble) or alternate origins.
• Think Ahead: If you’re launching in Q1 or Q2 2026, begin securing now.
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Need a Sourcing Ally?
At Noon International, we’ve been navigating these cycles for nearly 50 years. We help manufacturers, retailers, and foodservice operators lock in quality frozen ingredients—no guesswork, just reliability.
Email: sales@noon-intl.com
Phone: +1 (206) 283-8400
Website: www.noon-intl.com
The Noon International Team
Supplying frozen fruit and vegetable ingredients to top U.S. brands since 1976
www.noon-intl.com
+1 (206) 283-8400
sales@noon-intl.com
Noon International is a global broker of frozen fruits and vegetables serving food manufacturers, private-label brands, and foodservice operators across the U.S. and beyond. Learn more at www.noon-intl.com.
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