The new season of Spanish cherries will start with a slight delay. According to the Fepex Cherry Committee, harvesting will begin in Extremadura between May 10 and 15, around ten days later than the average of previous years.
Not only in Extremadura: delays of between seven and ten days are also reported in Aragon, Catalonia, and Alicante. Despite the delay, prospects for 2025 remain optimistic: expected volumes are within the normal range, and fruits of good size are anticipated.
A major development this year is the official opening of the Chinese market to Spanish cherries, thanks to the signing of a new phytosanitary protocol between the two countries. Companies interested in exporting to China must register in a dedicated registry established by the Ministry of Agriculture and pass a compliance audit scheduled by the end of May.
Access to the Chinese market represents a strategic opportunity for the sector, which is experiencing steady growth: in 2024, Spain exported 39,968 tonnes of cherries, around 33,440 of which were destined for the European Union. Exports to non-EU countries reached 6,528 tonnes, with the United Kingdom as the main destination (5,725 tonnes), followed by Hong Kong (103 tonnes) and South Africa (100 tonnes). Total exports generated a value of €139 million.
With expansion into Asian markets and a balanced season ahead, Spain confirms its role as Europe's leading cherry producer. For Italy, the second-largest European producer, strengthening trade relations between Europe and Asia could also open new growth opportunities.
Source: fruitnet.com
27 Jan 2025
“We got off to a great start in June and our early fruit was of excellent quality and helped drive promotions that led to consistent purchasing (through July and early August)", said B.J. Thurlby, president of Northwest Cherry Growers, in his recap of the 2024 season.
20 Feb 2024
Benedetta Ricci Iamino, Global Category Director – Cherries at TOMRA Food says: “LUCAi™ for InVision2 represents a substantial leap forward. The LUCAi™ platform, in fact, allows to process cherries at a higher speed (+15% kg per hour per lane) while optimizing defect sorting.
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.
