The agreements at the CIIE continue. On November 6, Hema signed a strategic cooperation agreement with GarcesFruit, the leading supplier of Chilean cherries. GarcesFruit will provide Hema with high-quality and affordable Chilean fruits, such as cherries and plums. At the same time, Hema’s first overseas direct procurement base in Chile has been officially completed.
According to data released by the Chilean Export Promotion Agency, in January this year, Chilean cherry exports reached a record high with a value of $1.555 million, representing an increase of 27.5%, surpassing the record set in 2007. Taking advantage of the increase in consumer demand during the Spring Festival, cherries exported to China accounted for 93%, marking a 30.8% increase compared to the previous year.
GarcesFruit is the largest exporter of cherries in Chile and has access to a vast number of high-quality sources in the country.
Image 1: Herman Garces.
Chen Yanghui, Hema’s National Director of Fruit Procurement and Marketing, stated that due to the production season, the peak sales period for Chilean cherries occurs every year during the Chinese Lunar New Year. The red color itself aligns well with the good luck wishes associated with the Spring Festival, making cherries one of the most popular products for the New Year.
Hema and Jizhi have always been close partners. After reaching a strategic cooperation agreement, Jizhi will establish a “dedicated supply” channel for Hema, control the quality of cherries from the origin, customize packaging for Hema, enhance logistics and transportation efficiency, reduce transit links, and ensure that the cherries are not cooled from the time they leave the fruit trees until they are placed on shelves.
After the two parties achieve cooperation in direct purchases, the supply chain cost for Jizhi cherries from Chile to Hema will be reduced by approximately 5%.
Image 2: Garces Fruit cherries and boxes.
Read the full article: China Agriculture
Images: Garces Fruit
18 Oct 2024
With nearly 3 hectares of panels over their cherry trees, Christian Clair and his son Adrien are pioneers in the field of agrivoltaics. It’s a system they deem essential to continue producing despite the whims of the weather.
22 May 2025
A Moldovan study reveals how nanotechnology-based foliar fertilization with microelements improves cherry tree yield and fruit quality in the Kordia cultivar grafted on Gisela 6 rootstock. Fruit size and premium grade cherries increased in 2023 and 2024 trials.
01 Dec 2025
Fruit cracking leads to significant economic losses in Mediterranean orchards. Advanced sensing technologies and precision agriculture now allow growers to detect early stress signals, reduce fruit splitting, improve resource efficiency and enhance overall crop sustainability.
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.
