Chilean cherry production has increased by over 50% in recent years, and industry analysis is studying new markets, adjusting volumes, and developing new products, such as frozen cherries, according to ChileAlimentos.
It notes while the frozen cherry industry remains relatively small compared to fresh fruit, it has shown a consistent growth over the years.
Bachelet explained that cherries are a new addition to the frozen sector, where most exports from Chile have historically been berries.
Chile’s frozen industry has historically been with berries, and began with raspberries In recent years, blueberries have made up the largest volume. The freezing industry typically selects ripe fruits that cannot withstand transport, because these fruits are equally good, ripe, and perfect in terms of flavor and color.
The United States has been identified as the primary producer and consumer of frozen cherries, with Europe and Turkey also showing significant growth.
The frozen sector has experienced substantial growth as experienced by the first two months of 2025, when exports doubled, increasing from over 2,000 tons to 4,500 tons, and this upward trend is expected to continue.
The organization points ouit 8,690 tons of frozen cherries were exported last year, and projections suggest that this figure may nearly double to around 19,000 tons this year. This growth is attributed to a larger supply of fruit, leading to increased opportunities for sourcing raw materials, a traditional challenge for the frozen industry.
The United States is identified as a key target for growth, followed by Canada, China, and Japan.
Frozen cherries are primarily used in cherry pies and sold as standalone fruits. However, many cherries are now being marketed in mixtures with other fruits, such as cherry mix and berry cherry mix.