The cherry season in Turkey seems to be going much better than the last two, because the weather is less rainy, says Alper Kerim, owner of the Turkish fruit exporter Demir Fresh Fruits: “We are talking to our growers and we are in close contact with them during this period.”
This is the time when we can make a solid estimate of the next cherry season. So far, the season looks positive. The two previous seasons of Turkish cherries have not been positive due to Turkey's climate problems. Too much rain during the harvesting period has compromised the quality of cherries. This year, we expect better weather conditions for cherries”.
Although Kerim's main customers are in Asia, in terms of expansion, the exporter looks to European territories.
“Turkish cherries are the number one product in Turkey and there is always demand for our cherries from all over the world. This year, I expect a huge demand for Turkish cherries compared to previous years, because we see that there is a shortage of cherries in several countries”.
For Demir Fresh Fruits, this year the focus will be on the European market. "We already have some agreements with one of the European supermarkets. We are able to send large volumes to Europe and transit times are very suitable for cherries. Asian countries remain our major buyers, because we have very reliable partners in India, Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, and we will also ship cherries to these territories”.
Read the full article: FreshPlaza
Image: FreshPlaza
01 Dec 2025
Cherry season exposes the limits of self-care as a safety model. Is it a personal duty or a sign of poor risk management? When risks increase, only structured systems—not individual willpower—can ensure health and safety for all workers in the field.
Tech management Post-harvest Press review Varieties
25 Sep 2023
Is a solution possible? The expert is optimistic and has already taken an important step by defining that one of the important variables affecting post-harvest sensitivity is maturity and therefore its monitoring. But this is not the only challenge.
04 May 2026
In France, the first Royal Tioga cherries reach the shelves as early as April thanks to protective systems against wind and rain. Early production reduces competition, improves growers’ margins and allows prices of up to €14 per kilo at the start of the season.
04 May 2026
In 2026, UK sweet cherries confirm growth, quality gains and steady retail demand. With production forecast at 8,000 tonnes, the key challenge will be diversifying across retail, wholesale and export to capture value during seasonal peaks while reducing waste and big discounting.
