california strawberry commission
The California Strawberry Commission is a state-mandated marketing order funded by assessments from 300+ strawberry growers, shippers, and processors; it funds research, marketing, and advocacy for an industry that produces roughly 90% of U.S. strawberries on less than 1% of California farmland.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersWatsonville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What california strawberry commission does
The California Strawberry Commission is a California state-mandated marketing order established to represent and promote the interests of the state's strawberry industry. Founded in 1970 (per the Commission's website) and headquartered in Watsonville, the organization is funded by mandatory assessments on California's strawberry farmers, shippers, and processors under California law. It serves a membership of more than 300 strawberry operators whose combined production accounts for approximately 90% of U.S. strawberries grown on less than 1% of California farmland.
The Commission's core "products" are industry services rather than commercial goods: marketing, research, advocacy, and consumer education. Its consumer-facing website (californiastrawberries.com) hosts a large recipe library, health-and-wellness content, and the #BehindtheBerry farmer and farmworker storytelling program, while its professional channel publishes dietitian toolkits and convenes the Berry Health Benefits Symposium. Its research program channels member funding into sustainable farming R&D through partnerships with the Cal Poly Strawberry Center, UC Davis, and UC Cooperative Extension, with cumulative farmer investment exceeding $17 million in areas such as drip irrigation, integrated pest management, UV-C light technology, mechanical bug vacuums, drone-delivered beneficial insects, and traditional non-GMO strawberry breeding.
Commercially, the Commission generates no product revenue; its operating budget is funded by recurring assessments on its member base. It is governed by a board elected from the industry it represents and functions as a quasi-governmental agricultural marketing body rather than a private enterprise. End markets for the underlying commodity flow through grocery retail, foodservice, farmers markets, and international export channels, but those sales are executed by individual member operators, not by the Commission itself.
california strawberry commission firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- california strawberry commission
- Legal name
- California Strawberry Commission
- Website
- https://californiastrawberries.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The California Strawberry Commission is a state-mandated marketing order funded by assessments from 300+ strawberry growers, shippers, and processors; it funds research, marketing, and advocacy for an industry that produces roughly 90% of U.S. strawberries on less than 1% of California farmland.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
california strawberry commission industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Marketing Commission
- NAICS
- Strawberry Farming (111333)
- SIC
- Agricultural Production-Crops (100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Berry Farming (Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Cranberries) (AFAGACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Berry Sorting & Packing Facilities (AFAOAGAD), Greenhouse Fruit & Berry Production (Strawberries, Specialty Fruits) (AFAGAHAB)
Keywords
Where california strawberry commission is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Watsonville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
california strawberry commission business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- Industry Membership Services: The California Strawberry Commission is funded by California's strawberry farmers, shippers and processors through a state-mandated marketing order. The Commission creates opportunities for success through programs focused on workforce training, strawberry production research, and nutrition research. Revenue supports industry-wide marketing, research, and advocacy activities.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels12 records
california strawberry commission product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The California Strawberry Commission is a state-mandated agricultural marketing order that represents over 300 California strawberry farmers, shippers, and processors. Its core offerings include industry-wide marketing and promotion of California strawberries, applied production and nutrition research funded through partnerships with universities, workforce training programs, and consumer and health professional education. The Commission does not sell strawberries directly; instead, it funds research, marketing, and advocacy through mandatory assessments on its member growers.
Product overview
The California Strawberry Commission operates a consumer marketing website promoting California strawberries as a product. The Commission's offerings include fresh California strawberries (representing approximately 90% of U.S. production), a comprehensive recipe library spanning snacks, desserts, main dishes, and holiday recipes, health and wellness educational content about strawberry nutrition, farm story videos featuring farmers and farmworkers, research publications on sustainable farming practices, and professional resources for dietitians and health professionals. The organization is a state agricultural commission, not a technology company, and does not offer software products or APIs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fresh California Strawberries
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% of U.S. strawberries are grown in California by CSC members
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use california strawberry commission
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
california strawberry commission technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
california strawberry commission partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Cal Poly Strawberry CentercoreThe Strawberry Center is a partnership between the California Strawberry Commission and Cal Poly. Initially focused on soilborne pathogens and soil fumigation alternatives, the Center continues to increase the sustainability of the California strawberry industry through research and education. In 2023, the partnership celebrated its 10th anniversary. The Commission has invested millions of dollars through this partnership.
- University of CaliforniacoreCalifornia strawberry farmers work alongside researchers from the University of California system in developing stronger non-GMO strawberry varieties, reducing pesticide use, and conserving natural resources. The partnership includes UC Davis and UC Cooperative Extension.
- California Department of Pesticide RegulationcoreIn 2022, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation awarded Dr. John Lin, the Strawberry Center's Automation program director, a grant aimed at promoting the understanding and adoption of UV-C light technology by California's strawberry growers.
- United Nations/FAOminor2026 has been declared the International Year of the Woman Farmer by the United Nations/FAO, recognizing the essential role women play in agriculture worldwide. The California Strawberry Commission is championing this recognition domestically.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
california strawberry commission competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Almond Board of California: Federal marketing order for California almonds with parallel structure to the California Strawberry Commission: industry-funded, research-driven, and consumer-marketing oriented.
- California Avocado Commission: California state commodity commission for avocados with the same marketing-order structure, member-funded model, and consumer-marketing + research mandate as the California Strawberry Commission.
- California Table Grape Commission: California state commodity commission representing table grape growers; structurally identical to the California Strawberry Commission as a state-mandated marketing order conducting marketing, research, and advocacy for its members.
- California Walnut Commission: California state marketing order for walnuts; shares the Commission's state-mandated marketing order structure, member assessment funding, and focus on export marketing plus production research.
- Florida Strawberry Growers Association: Trade association representing Florida strawberry growers with similar member-services, research, and marketing mandate; competes seasonally (winter) with California strawberries in U.S. retail.
- Washington State Fruit Commission: State marketing organization for Washington apples with a comparable grower-funded, consumer-marketing and research-driven structure to the California Strawberry Commission.
- North American Blueberry Council: Industry organization for blueberry growers across North America; analogous commodity-marketing and research structure focused on a closely adjacent berry category.
Broad incumbents
- Driscoll's: Largest private berry marketer/grower globally with strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries; operates in the same U.S. retail channel and serves as both a member-shipper and a downstream brand competing for shelf space with 'California Strawberries'.
- Naturipe Farms: Large U.S. berry grower-marketer with strawberries, blueberries, and other berries; competes for the same retailer relationships and consumer demand as the California Strawberry Commission's members.
Regional players
- Oregon Strawberry Commission: Regional industry organization for Oregon strawberry growers with similar marketing and research services but operating in a different geographic niche from California's dominant coastal production.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
california strawberry commission social profiles
Digital presencecalifornia strawberry commission financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
california strawberry commission leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
california strawberry commission funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
california strawberry commission M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about california strawberry commission
What does california strawberry commission do?
The California Strawberry Commission is a state-mandated agricultural marketing order that represents over 300 California strawberry farmers, shippers, and processors. Its core offerings include industry-wide marketing and promotion of California strawberries, applied production and nutrition research funded through partnerships with universities, workforce training programs, and consumer and health professional education. The Commission does not sell strawberries directly; instead, it funds research, marketing, and advocacy through mandatory assessments on its member growers.
Is california strawberry commission a public or private company?
california strawberry commission is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was california strawberry commission founded?
california strawberry commission was founded in 1970. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is california strawberry commission based?
california strawberry commission is headquartered in Watsonville, United States, in the North America region.
How does california strawberry commission make money?
One revenue line is on record: industry Membership Services.
Who are california strawberry commission's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Almond Board of California, California Avocado Commission, California Table Grape Commission, California Walnut Commission, Florida Strawberry Growers Association, Washington State Fruit Commission and North American Blueberry Council. Broad incumbents are Driscoll's and Naturipe Farms. Oregon Strawberry Commission is listed as a regional player.
Does california strawberry commission have an API?
No public API is recorded for california strawberry commission.
What industry is california strawberry commission in?
california strawberry commission's product category is Agricultural Marketing Commission. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGACAD, Berry Farming (Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Cranberries), with a secondary code of AFAOAGAD, Berry Sorting & Packing Facilities. Its NAICS code is 111333 and its SIC code is 100.