Chris Connell, SVP perishables North America at Commodity Forwarders, predicts a higher yield of larger fruit for export this year, with around 23 million 20lb boxes or 207,000 tonnes exported to Asia.
However, the quality of the crop was uneven, and foreign purchasers were less enthusiastic than expected. The dollar's strength and the escaping lockdowns in key Asian markets contributed to the price-sensitive nature of markets.
The Vietnamese market has continued to grow, while European retailers and importers have been buying more cherries from Turkey and Spain.
US cherry growers are now focusing more on the home market due to the more competitive international markets. Cathay Pacific raised the weekly freighter frequency to the Pacific northwest to meet extra loads, but there was no discernible increase in total freighter activity. Other US perishable exports, such as blueberry, also struggled this year due to quality issues.
Read the full article: The Load Star
Immagine: Good Fruit Growers
20 Aug 2024
‘Different packaging companies are at different stages of digitisation,’ said Jon Cox, vice-president of Double Diamond, a packaging company in Quincy, Washington. ‘They have caught up with us where we were and are taking us to the next stage.’
18 Jun 2026
France’s 2026 cherry production has been revised down after hail in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, weak demand and early Spanish competition. Prices remain under pressure while Europe expects a solid harvest, with Italy recovering and trends in Occitania and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.
07 Aug 2026
A study evaluates 92 entomopathogenic nematode strains against Drosophila suzukii. Steinernema carpocapsae NC116 shows high efficacy against larvae, while sublethal effects on adults open new opportunities for integrated pest management in cherry production.
07 Aug 2026
The 2026 Northwest U.S. cherry season enters its final phase with over 16 million boxes shipped. Volumes remain below the May forecast and Rainier cherries are sharply down, while flavor, size and quality stay high as dark sweet cherries support the final push in August.
