The cherry industry currently faces headwinds in every fruit crop, including increases in labour and other input costs, growing competition in the global market, supply chain disruptions, inflation, development pressures and an ageing grower population.
A particular case of uncertainty is evident in the cherry sector, where price inconsistency, import pressure and weather-related crop losses create significant challenges. Sour cherry losses due to climate change and the limited geographical extent of the sector have become more frequent.
Lake Michigan, which once offered protection from extreme weather conditions, is no longer as reliable as in the past. Spring frosts have compromised crucial harvests, including an alarming period in 2020 and 2021, marking the first time in Michigan history with two consecutive low harvests.
Since 2012, cherry growers have had access to crop insurance to manage losses. However, the fluctuating size of harvests worries business, with the chairman of the Cherry Industry Administrative Board fearing the loss of price stabilisation mechanisms, especially after the dissolution of the CherrCo cooperative in 2018.
The lack of price stability worries buyers, with the chairman of the Cherry Industry Administrative Board warning that constantly fluctuating prices are not conducive to sales. The CherrCo cooperative, previously responsible for stabilising the price of frozen cherries, was dissolved in 2018, adding further uncertainty to the industry.
The decline in the size of the cherry industry is evident, with Michigan experiencing a decline in acres under cultivation and in the number of growers and processors. The reduction in processors complicates the situation for independent growers, who complain of a lack of pricing power.
Low-priced imports of cherry products from other countries have further aggravated the sector's difficulties. However, a recent finding revealed that import estimates may have been overestimated, although competition remains a significant problem.
Read the full article: Good Fruit Grower
21 May 2025
China leads global cherry consumption, but Chilean exports face challenges from domestic economy, competition, food safety perceptions and social media pressure. The industry reflects on innovative strategies to protect its reputation and secure future growth.
11 Jul 2024
Last year's overlapping seasons and mass ripening collapsed the market for growers. Farmers can prepare for the weather, but how can they defend themselves against a flooded market and a dramatically short season?
01 Sep 2026
In the United States, a low-cost mobile system using RGB-D cameras, deep learning and digital odometry automatically measures sour cherry trunk diameter, geolocates individual trees and creates spatial maps to support precision orchard management at commercial scale.
01 Sep 2026
ExpoCerezos 2026 makes its Curicó, Chile, presentations available online, covering new cherry varieties, orchard management, productivity, quality and markets. Five technical reports examine field results, current challenges and future prospects for the cherry industry.
