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
04 Jan 2024
It was discovered that PavTCP1 and PavTCP3 homologues in Arabidopsis TCP proteins are crucial for light responses, and it is agreed that these genes may contribute significantly to the light responses of sweet cherries.
05 Mar 2024
This season was characterised by fruits of good size, texture and flavour. However, the varieties most affected by the weather were the early varieties, says Masman, who points out that in cold conditions, Santina was the most affected variety.
17 Dec 2025
A Spain-Denmark study reveals the molecular pathways behind sweet cherry bud dormancy release. The research highlights the roles of hydrogen cyanamide, jasmonates and cytokinins in helping fruit trees adapt to climate change effects on flowering.
17 Dec 2025
Japanese cherry blossom trees bloom from March to April, but not all produce edible cherries. Learn the difference between ornamental and fruiting cherry trees, discover the most iconic varieties and where to see them—from Tokyo to Washington D.C.
