The U.S is becoming a more significant destination for Chilean cherries this season as exporters are shipping sharply higher volumes to diversify away from China, which still receives about 90 percent of the Andean country’s supplies, according to industry sources.
Shipments to the US have climbed to about 4 million boxes this season, up nearly 53 percent compared to last year, quality control firm Decofrut, which describes the US as a key outlet for balancing global supply amid slower growth in Asia.
The company points out agreements are made under contracts with predefined prices and volumes, which provide greater stability for the exporter and, at the same time, security for the retail customer.
The Chilean cherry season aligns with a strategic winter period in the US, when domestic production is unavailable. Unlike blueberries or grapes, which overlap between hemispheres, cherries only have a marketing window of about three months, making them a seasonal item for retailers.
Grower co-op Copefrut, also reports strong growth for Chilean cherries in the US market.
The cooperative notes the North American market shows a 73 percent increase compared to last season, and projections point to closing the cycle with a total volume 40 percent higher than last year,