The cherry season is expected to arrive early in the United Kingdom, and the sight of cherry blossom trees at the family-run Kent Little Sharsted Farm visually confirms it. This year, the UK cherry season has seen an early bloom due to favorable weather conditions. The fruit is expected to hit supermarket shelves as early as late May.
The cherry season in the country lasts only two months, from mid-July to mid-September, a shorter season compared to other major producing countries like Turkey, the United States, and Chile. Most of the country's cherry trees require pollination by honeybees, which heavily rely on the transfer of pollen from flower to stigma by the insect.
Without bees, cherry trees would struggle to produce fruit. The UK has lost 13 species of bees, and 35 are endangered due to urban development, intensive agriculture, extreme weather conditions, climate change, and pesticide use.
As the cherry blossoms in the UK are relatively small and low in nectar, honeybees play a crucial role in increasing cherry production. Jon Hillary, cherry product manager at Driscoll's, states that climate plays a fundamental role in the pollination process.
"As we prepare for the cherry season, we are expecting to see cherry growth a bit earlier than usual for this season," he says. However, cherry blossoms will need warmer and more stable weather conditions to ensure optimal pollination. Forecasts indicate an early start to the cherry season, but it will depend on the presence of a sunnier spring."
The organization is looking forward to delivering fresh British cherries to consumers. A report conducted by the CNR's Institute of Bioeconomy, with the support of European partners, shows that cherries are among the most appreciated fruits in the UK, although the country is not a major producer of this product.
Read the full article: Fresh Fruit Portal
Image: Woodland Trust
08 Jul 2024
The campaign is now well underway and the production areas are trying to take advantage of the last moments of sales. Puglia is almost at the end of the season, Vignola is almost at the end, while the mountain and Piedmont area cherries are on the launching pad.
15 Mar 2024
In agronomic terms, Marysa® had attributes that were in some cases superior to the Sweet® varieties, in terms of rusticity and productivity, high harvest yields and fruit size. The variety spread not only in its area of origin, but also in the Verona area.
15 Jan 2026
2025 marks a significant turning point for the global cherry industry: declining Northern Hemisphere yields, booming South American exports, and emerging markets like India and China. Quality, logistics, innovation, and diversification drive competitiveness.
15 Jan 2026
China is investing in cherry production, turning what was once considered a luxury fruit into a key pillar of its agricultural strategy. Backed by strong local government support, provinces like Shandong and Yunnan are scaling up output and reducing import dependency.
