Wild strawberries are native to the Alps and they are well-known since the prehistoric period. The large strawberry is a variety of strawberry that comes from two American species that were mixed in Europe.

The surface intended for strawberry culture in Spain in 1995 was 9,000 ha, representing 313,000 t of production.

The world production in 1999 was 2,987,000 t. The distribution by continents in 1999 was as follows:

Continent	Thousand tons
Africa	69
Asia	497
Europe	1,369
North America	954
Oceania	21
South America	77
Total	2,987

Source: Fresh Produce Deskbook 2001
Data: 1999

More recent data show that the production in 2000 surpassed that of 1999. 3,110,186 t of strawberries were produced in 2000. The main countries producing strawberries in 2000 were:

Country	Tons
The United States of America	822,800
Spain	396,400
Italy	208,599
Poland	169,000
México	166,430
Japan	164,200
Korea	152,481
Russia	128,000
Turkey	10,000
Germany	109,194

Source: Faostat Database Results. (2000).( http://www.fao.org )

The leader in world-wide production is the United States of America followed by Spain. Spain is the leading European country in strawberry production, being this centred in Huelva.

Concerning imports, 473,949 t of this fruit were imported world-wide in 1999. Import by continents were as follows:

Continent	Tons
Africa	161
Asia	10,424
Europe	368,630
North and Central America	94,403
Oceania	164
South America	167
Total	473,949

Source: FAOSTAT Database Results (1999).( http://www.fao.org )

The ten main import countries are shown in the following table:

Country	Tons
Germany	133,650
France	80,987
Canada	45,678
The United States of America	43,001
Belgium-Luxembourg	24,729
United Kingdom	23,512
Austria	23,336
Italy	22,643
The Netherlands	16,397
Switzerland	13,073

Source: Faostat Database Results (1999). ( http://www.fao.org )

In 1999, Germany was the country with a greater amount of strawberries import in the world. Spain imported 2,667 t in 1999. Export by continents were as follows:

Continent	Tons
Africa	17,385
Asia	10,990
Europe	368,309
North and Central America	104,398
Oceania	2,784
South America	588
Total	504,454

Source: Faostat Database Results (1999). ( http://www.fao.org )

As shown in the table, Europe was the continent with greater amount of strawberries exported, followed by North America and Central America. The European production fully surpasses that of the rest of continents.

The ten main export countries are shown in the following table:

Country	Tons
Spain	214,171
The United States of America	57,500
Italy	45,666
Mexico	44,918
Belgium-Luxembourg	36,302
Poland	24,437
Morocco	16,396
France	16,243
The Netherlands	14,890
Turkey	8,098

Source: Faostat Database Results (1999). ( http://www.fao.org )

As shown in the table, Spain is the main exporter in the world (with a remarkable difference with the rest of countries). 214,171 t were exported in 1999. The increase of strawberry export in Spain from 1982 to present time has been spectacular, from 14,500 t to 171,500 t in 1998; it also increased in 1999.

The total surface dedicated to strawberry culture in Spain is 9,000 has and the estimated production in 1999 by communities was the following:

Area	Hectares	Tons
Huelva	7,800	280,000
Barcelona	600	14,000
Others	600	19,000
TOTAL	9,000	313,000

Source: La Horticultura Española (2001) Sech.

Practically all the Spanish production is centred in the province of Huelva, representing a great achievement for the productive sector. The Spanish production is intended for fresh consumption for the domestic and European market. Only 10-20% of the national production is intended for industrial processing.