What size are frozen strawberries?

They are graded by diameter in millimetres. Our listing describes the 18 to 24 mm range. A narrower range gives a more uniform look, which suits toppings and retail packs.

Is IQF better than block frozen strawberries?

IQF berries stay loose and are easier to portion, so they suit retail and toppings. Block frozen is cheaper to pack and works well for jam, puree and juice.

How can I tell if frozen strawberries were thawed and refrozen?

Berries stuck together in clumps, or covered in large ice crystals, often point to temperature changes in transit. Compare each shipment with your retained sample and keep the temperature log from the container.

What documents should I ask for?

Ask for a certificate of analysis, a certificate of origin and a health or quality certificate. If your market requires it, ask for halal and HACCP certificates too.

What is the minimum order for frozen strawberries?

The minimum order and packing options are shown on the product page. Fruit is usually shipped by the full container, so send an inquiry with your quantity and destination.

Buyer's guide

Frozen Strawberry Wholesale: What Importers Should Know

By Elaff Trade Co.Published 12 October 20266 min read

Frozen strawberry wholesale means buying whole or cut strawberries, frozen soon after harvest and packed in cartons, for bakeries, dairies, juice makers and retailers. Agree the size, freezing method, quality limits and packing in writing, and check each shipment against a sample.

Who buys frozen strawberries

Frozen strawberries are available all year, so they are a steady ingredient for businesses that cannot rely on fresh fruit. Typical buyers include:

Ice cream, yoghurt and dessert manufacturers.
Bakeries and pastry makers that use them in fillings and toppings.
Juice, smoothie and beverage producers.
Jam and sauce makers.
Retailers and distributors that sell frozen fruit in bags.

Size grades

Strawberries are graded by diameter, in millimetres. A narrow range means the berries look uniform, which matters for toppings and retail packs. A wider range is fine for puree, jam and juice, where appearance is not important. Our Frozen Strawberry listing describes newly harvested fruit in the 18 to 24 mm size range.

Whole, halves, sliced or diced

Ask which form you are being quoted:

Whole berries with the leaves removed, for toppings, desserts and retail.
Halves or slices, for fillings and yoghurt.
Diced pieces, for baking and fruit preparations.
Broken or irregular pieces, a lower grade that works for puree and juice.

IQF or block frozen?

IQF means individually quick frozen. The berries are frozen separately and stay loose, so you can scoop out what you need. Block frozen berries are frozen together in a solid block, which is cheaper to pack and often used by processors who crush or cook the fruit anyway. If you repack for retail or portion by hand, choose IQF. If you make jam or juice, block can be enough.

Quality checks

Strawberries are delicate, so inspect these points on the sample and on arrival:

Colour: an even red, without large white or green areas.
Free flow: IQF berries should pour freely. Berries stuck in clumps, or covered in large ice crystals, may have thawed and refrozen on the way.
Damage: the share of crushed, broken or discoloured pieces.
Foreign matter: no leaves, stems or other material.
Lab results: ask for a certificate of analysis. Importers in many markets also check pesticide residues against local limits.

Write the limits you accept for each point into your purchase order, so there is a clear standard if you need to raise a claim.

Packing and storage

Frozen strawberries are packed in cartons with inner bags or in bulk bins, and they must be stored at -18 °C or colder. The shelf life is printed on the carton and in the specification, so ask for the minimum remaining shelf life you will accept on arrival. Our guide to shipping frozen food internationally explains how to keep the cold chain unbroken.

If you also buy other frozen fruit, compare the specifications with our guide to frozen mango pulp.

Harvest and supply

Strawberries are harvested in a short season that depends on the growing region, and the fruit is frozen soon after picking so it can be sold through the rest of the year. Ask which harvest your quote refers to, and ask for the production date on each carton. For regular orders, agree the specification once and write it into every purchase order, so each delivery looks and tastes like the last.

Thawing, drip loss and yield

Strawberries are mostly water, so they release juice as they thaw. This is called drip loss, and it changes how much usable fruit you get from each kilogram:

For toppings and decoration, use the berries frozen or only partly thawed, so they keep their shape.
For fillings, sauces and smoothies, drip loss does not matter, and the juice can go into the recipe.
For jam and puree, thaw and cook or blend the whole contents, juice included.

Thaw in a refrigerator rather than at room temperature, and do not refreeze berries once they have thawed. If you buy by weight and sell finished portions, test a carton to find your real yield before you set your prices.

Retail packs and bulk packs

Frozen strawberries are sold in bulk cartons for manufacturers and in smaller bags for retail. If you repack, check that the carton specification allows you to open and reseal it in your own freezer room, and think about how your market expects the pack to be labelled. We can arrange labelling in your language for export orders.

Ordering by the container

Frozen fruit is normally sold by the full container. Ask for the cartons per pallet and the cartons per container before you compare quotes, and choose the trade term that suits you using our guide to EXW, FOB and CNF. Always request a sample first, and keep a retained sample from each delivery.

How to order from Elaff Trade Co.

Browse our frozen foods collection, then send us an inquiry with the size, the form (whole, sliced or diced), your quantity and your destination port. The minimum order and packing options appear on each product page. Importers in the Gulf, the UK, the USA and South Africa each apply their own pesticide residue limits and labelling rules, so tell us your destination when you inquire.