External placements of cherries in Neuquén this season amounted to 1,600 tons, a figure that represents an approximate growth of 49% compared to the previous year and a jump of 58% when considering the average exports over the last five seasons.
The good weather conditions in the Alto Valle region made it possible to achieve these export volumes. "It was a very good year. We had a high-quality harvest, and this was recognized by the market," commented Aníbal Caminiti, director of the Argentine Chamber of Integrated Cherry Producers (CAPCI), to +P.
Neuquén holds a significant share in Argentine cherry exports, averaging 22% of the total external placements of the product. This season's sales will generate foreign currency worth slightly over 4 million dollars. In the province, the cherry harvest is finished, and exports have also concluded. Two key companies leading the foreign trade of this type of product in Neuquén are Vista Alegre and Pincen.
“At a national level, we can say that we are about to reach 6,000 tons of cherries exported. As of Friday, 5,100 tons had been exported,” noted Caminiti. It should be noted that all exports from Chubut still have to be shipped. This exportable supply is destined for late cherries that arrive in foreign markets when the fruits are in very short supply.
“Late exports are also very important. The cherries shipped in March arrive on the Chinese market in April, a time when supply significantly drops with the participation of local production under glass. But the volume peaks have already passed,” clarifies the CAPCI director.
In this regard, it is worth noting that two “shocks” occur each season in international markets when the supply experiences a sudden drop. The first of these occurs in the months of October and November, marking the early season for the southern hemisphere.
Many of the exports from the Río Negro Valley and Neuquén rely on this “commercial window” to reach high levels of profitability. The other “shock” occurs in March and April, when the late exportable supply arrives from the southern region of Patagonia (Chubut and Santa Cruz).
Chile, the world's largest exporter of cherries, enters the markets early, achieving high levels of profitability; however, for the time being, it does not have the necessary volumes to supply the international market with late cherries.
Source: Más Producción
Image: Fresh Fruit Portal
14 Feb 2024
Products underwent quality assessment through the utilisation of non-destructive image analysis, colour measurements, and sensory analysis, which incorporated both non-destructive and destructive evaluation of attributes.
14 May 2025
Ankara University in Turkey applies dielectric technology and artificial intelligence to assess cherry quality non-destructively. The system enhances accuracy, lowers costs, and improves planning for harvest, storage, and distribution across the supply chain.
26 Oct 2026
Godolesh, near Elbasan in Albania, is a distinctive cherry-growing area. Its native variety, annual output of around 700 tonnes and sustainable practices support ambitions to reach European markets, from Italy to Germany, building on quality, origin and tradition.
23 Oct 2026
Spring rains in Chile have split early cherries in the north, while damage in O’Higgins, which accounts for over 80% of production, remains marginal so far. Growers are monitoring fungal disease, saturated soils and potential impacts on Chile’s 2026/27 cherry crop.
