Positive start to the Australian season, but watch out for El Niño

18 Oct 2023
2091

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


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

The Sweet cherries: a success story

Varieties

01 May 2023

Their first names are Aryana, Dave, Lorenz, Gabriel, Saretta, Stephany and Valina. Their surnames are Sweet, testifying to one of their outstanding traits, sweetness. The cherry varieties in the Sweet series from Alma Mater Studiorum are celebrating their 10th anniversary.

Micropropagation protocol for Gisela 17 tested in a commercial nursery in India

Rootstocks

28 Oct 2025

A new micropropagation protocol for Gisela 17 rootstock was developed in Aurangabad, India. The study achieved excellent results in asepsis, rooting and shoot proliferation, paving the way for healthy cherry stock production and modern nursery propagation techniques.

In evidenza

Will the heatwave put an end to the cherry harvest? Polish growers are coming to terms with their losses

Production

14 Aug 2026

Poland’s Łutówka sour cherry harvest is nearing its end, while processors have raised prices only slightly. Growers say returns remain below production costs, raising concerns about the future of investment in orchards, modern machinery, crop protection and fertilisers.

In Ukraine, industrial cherry processing plants are attracting growing interest

Planting systems

14 Aug 2026

Interest in industrial cherry orchards is growing in Ukraine as demand, prices and mechanized harvesting shape growers’ decisions. Stable yields, regional competition and access to processing are becoming major factors for profitability and new investments in the sector.

Tag Popolari