In 2023, the Californian cherry industry faced a difficult season due to a late oversupply, which led to severe economic losses. Due to a prolonged winter that lasted into the first weeks of spring, the harvest got off to an extremely slow start, creating an oversupply when the season overlapped with the Pacific Northwest. This overlap saturated supply channels and led to a less profitable market than in previous years.
The oversupply of cherries caused further problems, as most of the fruit in the Northwest ripened within only six weeks, forcing many growers to abandon orchards or harvest lower quality fruit to cover production costs. This created serious concerns within the industry, with many operators facing a surplus of cherries without sufficient demand to absorb it.
However, for 2024, the industry is preparing for a very different situation. Despite another wet winter, the timing of fruit ripening seems to be more in line with historical norms, predicting a shorter harvest but more in line with market expectations. According to experts such as Mark Calder of Spring Marketing, the season should have a more typical timing, with some early varieties reaching their peak production by the end of April and a steady volume in the southern regions of the San Joaquin Valley by early May.
Dave Martin of Stemilt Growers also joins the chorus of optimism, predicting a more moderate volume than the previous season. He expects varieties such as Coral and Bing to reach their peak production at predictable dates, ensuring a more stable supply in the market. Although challenges persist, the industry is determined to recover from the disappointment of 2023 and restore confidence among consumers and industry players.
In parallel, the industry continues to explore new cherry varieties, looking for complementary options to Bing, which remains a favourite in the Asian market. Variations such as the Black Pearl are gaining attention, offering unique characteristics that could satisfy consumer needs and further diversify the industry's supply. With these new perspectives and development strategies, the California cherry industry looks to the future with cautious optimism and determination to overcome past challenges.
Read the full article: Asia Fruit
Image: gregalder.com
01 May 2023
Sweet cherry growers around the world are increasingly adopting trellised training systems that create a narrow, contiguous, planar “fruiting wall” canopy architecture. The benefits of such a radically redesigned orchard are significant.
06 Dec 2024
China and other Asian markets have the capacity to absorb the increase in volumes of Chilean cherries, says Danny Guo, GM of JWM Asia. However, he cites quality control, channel diversification, and targeted marketing as key factors for success.
05 Dec 2025
South Africa’s cherry exports are growing fast: in 2024 over 800 hectares were in production. 60% go to the UK, followed by the EU and Middle East. China is the next frontier for 2026, with cold treatment protocols under evaluation to meet phytosanitary rules.
05 Dec 2025
Bloom Fresh cherries are transforming the global fruit market with new early and blush varieties. Grown in Chile, Spain, South Africa and France, premium selections like Cheery Glow and Cheery Treat meet rising demand from Asia, China and the United States.
