With the end of the harvest in the Jammu and Kashmir regions, India is entering a phase entirely dominated by cherry imports. This is according to Shivjit Zende, founder of Gurudatt IMPEX Pvt. Ltd., who confirms the arrival of large air shipments from the United States, Turkey, and Iran.
Sea shipments are also underway, especially from the Mashhad region.
According to Zende, the quality of imported cherries has been particularly high this year. "Producers have gained experience in post-harvest practices, and packaging standards have improved compared to last season," he explains.
Mashhad cherries from Iran stand out above all, thanks to ideal climatic conditions. Supplies from the United States and Turkey also show consistently high quality.
However, there are still logistical challenges. "Cherries are extremely delicate fruits: they must be pre-cooled immediately after harvest and transported quickly," Zende clarifies.
His team advises local producers to implement early cooling, store cherries in cold rooms, and opt for air shipments for distant markets such as Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai. In India, the cold chain is maintained using refrigerated vans until delivery to the end customer.
Both domestic and imported supplies offer a wide range of varieties. In Kashmir, the most requested include Jaddi, Mishri, Makhamali, Italy, Holland, Sweetheart, Cruzeland and Double Cherry, with Mishri especially appreciated for its sweetness and crunchiness.
In terms of pricing, 2025 is seeing significant increases, mainly due to rising air freight and labor costs. “Transport remains the key factor in determining the final price of cherries,” Zende highlights.
Looking forward, Gurudatt IMPEX plans to expand sourcing origins by including cherries from Spain and China. “Spain is known for its intensely sweet flavor, while China offers large-sized cherries, often over 20 mm, with very distinctive heart-shaped forms,” explains the entrepreneur.
The outlook for the coming months is clear: India’s cherry market will be entirely dependent on imports, with the United States expected to lead. “The Iranian season will end by late August, followed by Turkey’s until October. If prices remain acceptable, American cherries will continue to dominate even afterward,” Zende concludes.
Source: freshplaza.com
Image source: SL Fruit Service
10 Dec 2024
According to reports, abortion or pasma occurs 25-30 days after full flowering, when the fruit has already formed and then falls. A tree with an excessive load, for example, will naturally abort more fruits due to competition for photosynthates.
20 Jan 2025
The objectives of the study was to phenotype a segregating population of sweet cherries for selected key traits of the Zipper model and for their susceptibility to cracking, for which the QTLs for cracking susceptibility were established earlier.
30 Dec 2025
A study from China shows that pre-cooling sweet cherries at 4°C can reduce cracking by over 50%. Cultivars Jiahong and Hongdeng react differently, but both benefit. Physiological and genetic data support the effectiveness of this low-impact postharvest solution.
30 Dec 2025
South Africa is strengthening its cherry industry and aims to access the Chinese market by the 2026/27 season. With earlier harvest times than Chile, expanding planted area, and growing export potential, it could become a key supplier during weeks of limited global availability.
