Garden Strawberry Remains the Most Profitable Berry for Investment in 2026
The berry sector in Ukraine has undergone significant changes due to the pandemic and military events: the area of garden strawberry plantations has decreased from 9 to 7.1 thousand hectares, leading to a reduction in annual gross harvest from 65 to 53 thousand tons.
This is reported by AgroReview
Despite these challenges, industry analysts consider strawberries to be the most promising berry for quick return on investment in agribusiness. According to their estimates, this crop provides agricultural producers with the fastest return on investment, outpacing other popular berries such as raspberries and blueberries.
Impact of Climate and Transition to Tunnel Cultivation
One of the key challenges for the stability of strawberry harvests remains weather anomalies: frequent frosts and excessive rainfall force farmers to seek new cultivation approaches. Experts emphasize that European producers have long implemented closed-ground technology, particularly tunnels, which protect plants from weather risks, although they require significant investments.
This method is widespread in European countries: in the United Kingdom, 85% of strawberries are grown in tunnels, in the Netherlands — 75%, and in Spain, this figure exceeds 90%. In Ukraine, the trend of tunnel cultivation is just gaining momentum, made possible by state grant support that makes such projects more accessible for medium and small farms.
Financial Aspects of Cultivation and Profitability
The high economic efficiency of strawberry production is based on the use of quality planting material. According to experts, establishing 1 hectare of plantation with imported seedlings in open ground will cost approximately €10,000.
Within three years, each seedling provides at least 1 kg of marketable berries, allowing for yields of 40 tons per hectare. With an average market price of €1.5–2 per kilogram, producers can achieve significant profits even after covering costs for care and harvesting.
“Analyzing current expenses, experts note that the annual maintenance of one hectare of an industrial plantation, considering the wages of seasonal workers, costs €7–10 thousand. In the absence of critical force majeure events and adherence to technology, net profit can amount to about €10 thousand per hectare annually.”
This balance of costs and revenues makes garden strawberries one of the most attractive crops for farmers seeking quick returns on investment. However, experts remind us that the level of profitability depends on a quality irrigation system and effective plant protection against pests. This is what allows for the production of premium quality berries suitable for export or sale in retail chains.