Ukrainian late cherry: export potential in Middle Eastern and European markets

The late Ukrainian cherry can be a competitive product in foreign markets.

This is the opinion expressed in an article for the magazine “Horticulture in Ukraine” by Vladyslav Makarenko, co-owner of the “Makosad” farm (Chernivtsi region).

Market strategy

“It makes no sense for us to compete with Spain, Greece, Italy, Turkey, and even Uzbekistan in the early cherry segment,” he writes. “When they are at the stage of late varieties, we start harvesting the early ones, which are inferior in terms of organoleptic quality and size.

Early varieties have a short growing season and cannot reach the sizes and yields of late varieties. Instead, when, for example, the cherry season in Turkey is completely over, we are still harvesting late varieties, thus avoiding direct competition.

In principle, Germans and Poles operate according to the same scheme.”

Demand in foreign markets

“In the Middle East, cherries are in high demand,” Makarenko points out. “In Dubai, for instance, they are found on shelves all year round.

When production from the Southern Hemisphere ends in spring, from March onwards, supplies start arriving from greenhouses in Spain, Morocco, and other countries.”

“It is precisely our Middle Eastern customers who suggest that late cherry varieties represent a good niche for us,” concludes the farmer.

Text and image source: agrotimes.ua

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