Season / availabilityMay–June (open field); frozen year-round
Main originsKhmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia, Volyn, Kherson
Shelf lifeUp to 24 months at −18 °C
Strawberries for freezing and processing; key varieties suitable for IQF and puree.
Overview
Ukrainian strawberry is a established industrial crop: processing varieties for IQF, puree and jam alongside fresh dessert varieties. The frozen segment serves EU jam, dairy and smoothie producers with calibrated whole, sliced and puree formats.
Key facts
Season / availabilityMay–June (open field); frozen year-round
Main originsKhmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia, Volyn, Kherson
Formats: IQF whole calibrated (15–25 mm, 25–35 mm typical bands), sliced, and block-frozen puree. Processing varieties with firm flesh and high Brix are preferred for freezing; sugar-added puree formats exist for jam industry.
Industrial: 10–15 kg cartons with liner, 300–400 kg octabins for puree/processing grades. Retail pouches 300 g–1 kg under private label. Confirm pallet configuration per supplier.
Quality & Grades
Key parameters: calibration uniformity, Brix, colour, cap removal quality, MRL compliance and lot microbiology. Processing-oriented suppliers operate HACCP systems — verify certification per facility and request a lot COA.
The EU is the world’s largest importer of frozen strawberries. Ukrainian supply competes in the industrial segment against Polish, Moroccan and Egyptian origins, with short lead times to Central European processors.
EU buyers increasingly pre-contract industrial strawberry volumes; interest grows in calibrated whole fruit for premium retail packs and in puree with defined Brix for beverage applications.
Processing-oriented varieties with firm flesh are standard for IQF; dessert varieties go to fresh channels. Confirm the variety and its freezing performance with the supplier.
What calibrations are available for IQF strawberry?
Typical bands are 15–25 mm and 25–35 mm, plus uncalibrated and sliced. Exact band definitions and tolerances are set in the specification sheet.
Can puree Brix be standardised?
Puree can be produced to a target Brix (natural or sugar-adjusted). State your target range in the spec and confirm it on the lot COA.
When is the best time to contract?
Pre-harvest contracting in April–May secures volume; the open-field season is short (May–June), and spot prices firm quickly in weather-affected years.
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