The heat waves are damaging the cherry harvest in the northeastern prefecture of Yamagata, the main producer of this fruit in Japan. Municipalities in the prefecture are struggling to secure a sufficient number of cherries for a program that involves sending gifts to people who donate money in exchange for a tax reduction.
The prefecture of Yamagata accounts for almost 80% of the national cherry production, but it is likely that this year's harvest will be much lower than previously expected. The extremely hot climate for two consecutive summers has produced low-quality cherries that are not suitable for shipping.
According to the prefecture, as of June 26, about 76,000 gift packages of cherries were affected, accounting for nearly 20% of the total.
According to the prefecture of Yamagata, some municipalities would not have been able to ship the cherries by the expected dates, or they would have had to send a different variety or size.
To watch the video click here
Source: NHK World - Japan
Image: NHK World - Japan
31 May 2024
‘For the past four years we have been on the path to obtaining the PGI certification,’ says Andrea Braga, director of the Montecchia di Crosara cherry market, ‘we have achieved excellence through varietal and production choices best suited to our area'.
14 Jul 2025
In-depth analysis of winter chill models used in fruit growing: Chill Hours, Utah, and Dynamic. Comparison of methods and agricultural applications across different climate zones, from British Columbia to Mendoza, Argentina, to improve orchard management strategies.
26 Dec 2025
In 2024, cherry consumption in the European Union reached 629,000 tonnes, marking a +4.5% increase on an annual basis and reaching its highest level in ten years. Production, imports and exports are also growing, with Italy and Spain among the leading countries.
25 Dec 2025
La Junta de Extremadura ha distribuito 904.540 euro nel secondo pagamento dell’aiuto straordinario 2024 per i cerasicoltori colpiti dal maltempo. La misura, parte del Decreto Legge 3/2025, prevede un’ultima tranche da un milione di euro in arrivo nei prossimi giorni.
