The 2025 fruit market has brought sharp price movements, challenging harvests and shifting global supply. For pastry chefs, chocolatiers, bakers, gelato makers and food manufacturers, understanding these changes can help with purchasing, recipe costing and future product development.
The biggest story? Red fruits are under serious pressure, while mango offers a brighter spot for tropical flavour lovers.
Berry prices climb following difficult harvests
Red fruits have experienced some of the steepest price increases. Raspberry prices are up around 80%, sour and black cherry have risen approximately 100%, wild blueberry is up 70% and currants around 60%. Strawberry prices have increased between 20% and 50%, depending on origin.
Weather has played a major role. Serbia's raspberry harvest fell to just 20,000–25,000 metric tonnes, compared with around 75,000 tonnes in a normal year, following drought and extreme heat. Bulgaria and Poland were also affected.
Sour and black cherry harvests were exceptionally low in Serbia and Greece due to frost, creating record prices and potential supply disruption.
For businesses producing fruit-filled pastries, gelato, sorbets, bakery products and chocolates, careful planning around berry-based recipes will be increasingly important.
Mango provides welcome relief
The exotic fruit market presents a more varied picture.
Mango prices have fallen by up to 10%, helped by good harvests in India and Peru alongside reduced demand. This could provide tasty opportunities for chefs and manufacturers looking to explore tropical flavours in gelato, pâtisserie and desserts.
Elsewhere, however, costs are increasing. Pineapple is around 10% higher, lychee 5% higher and coconut approximately 20% higher. Passion fruit production has partially recovered in Peru and Ecuador, but lower Brix levels and continued high prices remain a challenge.
Citrus and orchard fruits offer greater stability
Citrus fruits have remained relatively steady. Lemon production decreased in Spain, with particular pressure on organic supply, while Sicilian mandarin harvests remained stable. Blood orange volumes have fallen amid strong global demand, pushing prices upwards.
Orchard fruits tell a similarly stable story. Apricot harvests returned to normal, while peach production fell 8% and pear volumes decreased 6%. Despite lower volumes, peach and pear prices remained stable.
What does this mean for food professionals?
With red-fruit prices rising dramatically, 2025 was a year for thoughtful flavour planning. Mango, citrus and orchard fruits could provide inspirational alternatives for seasonal menus and new product development, while premium berries can be used creatively alongside chocolate, creams, nuts and complementary fruits.
At Henley Bridge, we're passionate about helping pastry chefs, chocolatiers, bakers, gelato makers and food manufacturers respond to changing ingredient markets while continuing to create mouth-watering products. Understanding what's happening at source helps us all make smarter choices - and turn market challenges into delicious opportunities.
Shop Caramanfruit fruit purees now to get fresh fruit flavour, when you need it.
