The first Chilean cherries of the season have landed in New York with an air shipment: excellent quality, crunchy fruit, and high sugar levels. Forever Fresh aims to consolidate its position in the North American market, while the industry looks beyond China.
The 2025–2026 Chilean cherry season has officially begun with the arrival of the first air shipment in the United States. This was confirmed by Víctor Arriagada, Managing Director of the distribution company Forever Fresh, who in an exclusive interview with FreshFruitPortal.com shared details of the shipment and the company’s strategy to strengthen its presence in the U.S. market.
The first shipment included eight pallets of cherries from Chile’s central region, harvested by Garcés Fruit. The varieties featured were Royal Down, Glenn Red, Brooks, and Coral, all flown to New York City to ensure maximum freshness and fast distribution.
"We expect shipments every two days, with fruit coming from both Garcés Fruit and Verfrut," explained Arriagada, adding that the second shipment is scheduled for Saturday, October 25.
According to Forever Fresh, the quality of the first fruits was excellent: "We are very pleased. Air freight ensures outstanding freshness, great crunchiness, vibrant color, and high sugar levels," said Arriagada.
In this initial phase, the product is destined for both retail and wholesale channels, to meet the early demand of U.S. consumers, who are particularly demanding after an excellent local season in Washington State.
The growing interest in the U.S. market reflects a broader strategic shift within Chile’s cherry industry. Today, about 90% of Chile’s cherry production is exported to China—a dependency that proved risky last season, when oversupply led to a sharp price drop.
This has fueled the desire to build a strong, long-term alternative. "There’s clear potential in the U.S., but building a market takes time," noted Arriagada. "Together with our growers—Garcés, Verfrut, Probex, and Unifrutti—we are investing to stimulate demand and reacquaint consumers with the excellence of Chilean cherries in the middle of winter."
Last year, the United States imported around 4 million boxes of Chilean cherries, and Forever Fresh achieved a 25% market share. For the 2025–26 season, the company expects a 20–25% increase, even after revising down its initial global volume projections.
"At this stage, it’s crucial to ensure consistency and quality of supply," Arriagada emphasized, explaining that promotional activities will be launched only at strategic times—Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and Valentine’s Day—key dates to drive consumption and position cherries as a premium and gift-worthy product.
Arriagada’s final message was addressed to the entire Chilean industry: "We can’t just react after a bad year in China. We must build a true alternative market by investing in quality and promotion."
With the arrival of the first Chilean cherries in the U.S., a season full of expectations begins: between commercial opportunities and logistical challenges, 2025–26 could mark a decisive step forward toward greater market diversification for Chile’s red gold.
Source: freshfruitportal.com
Image source: Portal Frutícola
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