With Chilean cherry shipments to the US in full swing, total export volumes are expected to drop this year due to difficult growing conditions during the winter.
Evan Myers, CEO of Forever Fresh, reports that the start of the Chilean season was affected by the adverse winter weather conditions, with heavy rains affecting especially the earlier varieties. In December, shortages of these varieties led to 95% of cherries destined for the US being shipped by air, usually completed by mid-December before the arrival of the first sea containers.
Myers notes an overall decrease of 30% in shipments to the US compared to the previous year, with about 1.8 million boxes arriving out of a total projection of 2.3 million for this season, compared to 3.3 million last year. Although there are delays in shipments, the overall quality has been good and fruit size has improved significantly.
Compared to the previous season concentrated in three weeks, Myers expects shipments of cherries from Chile to extend into weeks 5 and 6, offering a supply period through February. This more diluted distribution could help retailers recover lost sales in December. At the moment, no significant delays are reported in the Panama Canal.
Myers points out that despite the overall decline in Chilean cherry exports, Forever Fresh will maintain similar volumes to the previous year. He emphasises the significant investments made by Chilean growers/owners in the US market over the past ten years and is confident of future supply growth due to new plantings in Chile and increased consumption in the US.
Read the full artcile: Fresh Fruit Portal
Image: Ilo da Pixabay
03 Oct 2024
Although chemical pesticides have high antimicrobial power, their use is becoming restricted due to European regulations. One alternative is biocontrol, which uses antagonistic agents or metabolites generated by them to block the spread of unwanted organisms.
13 May 2025
The University of Bologna’s new Gold series, unveiled at Macfrut 2025 in Rimini, features four high-quality bicolor cherry varieties. Outstanding fruits in terms of appearance, firmness, and productivity—developed through over 40 years of cherry breeding expertise.
17 Nov 2025
Hort Innovation launches a new project to enhance biosecurity for Australia’s cherry and summerfruit industries. A dedicated officer will support growers, manage pest incursions, and promote best practices to strengthen international market access and on-farm resilience.
17 Nov 2025
Gräb Nursery visits top cherry growers in the UK to evaluate late Kir® varieties. Focus on fruit quality, storage and cracking resistance. In partnership with Frank P Matthews Trees, the aim is to develop stronger, tastier and climate-adapted cherry cultivars.
