On September 28, Cherry Growers Australia launched their season with a webinar covering various topics. Patrick Ulloa, the export development coordinator, discussed their successful participation at Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong, where Australian cherries gained substantial interest.
Ulloa classified markets into three categories: easy, moderate, and highly regulated. Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia fall into the easy category, with minimal requirements. Moderately regulated markets like Indonesia, the United States, and Vietnam have more regulations. Highly regulated markets, such as Korea, Taiwan, and China, demand strict compliance with numerous restrictions.
Regarding weather conditions, Ulloa mentioned that they have been excellent in many parts of Australia. Chris Lucas from the Bureau of Meteorology discussed the outlook for October 2023, highlighting the presence of El Nino, leading to warmer and drier conditions, which may affect the wet season and pose a higher wildfire risk.
Gillian Reilly, head of marketing at Hort Innovation, discussed strategies to boost the cherry industry. They aim to position cherries as Australia's premium fruit, focusing on increasing value perception among retailers and consumers.
Unlocking growth potential involves addressing barriers such as pricing and off-season demand. Reilly suggests emphasizing the fruit's delicious taste, its festive nature, and its association with the holiday season. They view the higher price as an affirmation of cherries' exclusivity and worth.
Read the full article: Fresh Fruit Portal
25 Mar 2026
Coldtech introduces advanced rapid cooling technology in Chile that preserves cherry quality immediately after harvest. It reduces deterioration by up to 75%, improves efficiency across operations, and supports consistent premium standards for global export markets.
07 Apr 2025
Argentina closes the 2024/25 season with a historic cherry export record: 7,600 tonnes. Strong demand, high prices, improved logistics and advanced tech, but Chile now seriously threatens competitiveness in both domestic and global markets, raising producer concerns.
16 Jun 2026
In 2026, CTIFL, Inrae and private partners are testing new solutions in France against Drosophila suzukii in cherries and berries: attract-and-kill baits, Ganaspis kimorum, sterile males and TIS-TII with Wolbachia to reduce losses, chemical inputs and farm costs overall.
15 Jun 2026
In Vignola, the experimental orchard was named after Andrea Bernardi, former Consortium president and a key figure for Vignola Cherry PGI. The tribute highlights his work for innovation, research and dialogue among producers, institutions and the local fruit supply chain.
