Frozen cherries: new business for Chile? A booming market

03 Apr 2025
1288

The increase in cherry production in Chile, with a growth of over 50%, is pushing the industry to consider strategies to manage the excess supply.

Among the emerging options, in addition to expanding into new markets, the transformation of fresh fruit into frozen cherries stands out, a niche segment that is experiencing strong growth.

To explore the topic further, we spoke with Gonzalo Bachelet, CEO of Vitafoods and president of ChileAlimentos.

According to Bachelet, although the frozen cherry market is still marginal compared to fresh fruit, the volume exported grows year after year.

A Growing Market

Historically, Chile has mainly exported frozen berries, such as raspberries and, more recently, blueberries.

Cherries are a new addition to this sector and are selected from fruits that have reached full ripeness but are not suitable for the long journeys required for fresh export.

"The process is different from that of other berries," explains Bachelet.

"Initially, only discarded fruits from the fresh market selection were used, but now industry companies have started investing in specific processing lines for cherries, equipped with systems for pit and stem removal."

Investments and Processing

The frozen cherry processing involves several stages:

  • Stem removal;
  • Selection and pitting;
  • Washing and freezing;
  • Quality control using advanced systems, including X-rays, to eliminate any impurities.

"The final product is excellent: ripe and flavorful cherries, perfect for direct consumption or the food industry," says Bachelet.

However, frozen cherry prices are significantly lower compared to fresh cherries.

Despite this, they represent an opportunity to maximize the value of the entire harvest, reducing waste.

Where Are Frozen Cherries Sold?

The United States remains the leading producer and consumer of frozen cherries, followed by Europe and, more recently, Turkey.

China has also entered this market, although sales in early 2025 showed a slight decline.

The main uses of frozen cherries include the production of cherry pies and their sale in mixes with other fruits, such as cherry mix and berry cherry mix packages.

Growing Numbers

The growth trend of Chilean frozen cherry exports is evident: in the first two months of 2025, volumes doubled from 2,000 to 4,500 tons.

Forecasts for the entire year suggest a potential doubling compared to 2024, with exports possibly reaching 19,000 tons.

"Our goal is to expand target markets to support this growth," Bachelet explains.

"We already have a quality product; now we need to introduce it to consumers."

A New Perspective for Chilean Producers

Until last year, the frozen industry was considered a secondary solution for fruit that could not be sold fresh.

However, with the decline in fresh fruit prices, freezing cherries is becoming an increasingly attractive strategy to ensure the economic sustainability of producers.

Today, the price of frozen cherries is around 50 cents per kilo (approximately €0.46).

The most suitable varieties for this process are those with dark flesh.

With growing demand and targeted investments, the frozen cherry sector could soon become a key component of Chilean fruit exports.

Text and images: portalfruticola.com


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

Spanish cherries: late start to the season but positive outlook

Production

30 Apr 2025

In 2025, Spain’s cherry harvest will start 7–10 days later than usual. Forecasts predict excellent fruit sizes, stable volumes, and promising new export prospects with the opening of the Chinese market, a key driver for growth in the coming seasons.

Early start for Catalonia: good prices, but forecasts reveal less harvest for 2024

Production

16 May 2024

‘We started a few days earlier than last year, when the harvest began on 4 May,’ says David Manero, producing partner of Cerima Cherries. ‘The campaign started well in terms of prices, but this year there will be fewer kilos of early cherries.

In evidenza

New Picota cherries from Spain: less pit, more quality and stem-free harvest

Breeding

17 Sep 2025

In Spain’s Jerte Valley, new Picota cherry cultivars enhance fruit quality, reduce pit size, and support stem-free harvesting. A recent study identifies four promising genotypes with commercial size, shelf-life resistance, and post-harvest performance in MAP.

Results of Armonigro treatments on cherry and nectarine trees in Aconcagua Valley, Chile

Tech management

17 Sep 2025

Field trials tested Armonigro on Brooks and Santina cherry trees and May Glo nectarines in Chile’s Aconcagua Valley. The treatments aimed to improve yield and fruit size under adverse climatic conditions, including low chill hours and irregular bud development.

Tag Popolari