Cherry quality is believed to have improved thanks to the end of pandemic restrictions in China.
The lifting of pandemic control restrictions in China has facilitated logistics, both at ports and in wholesale markets.
As a result of the above, our correspondents spoke with some representatives of companies in the market. One of them was the regional director for Asia for Tutti Fruit, Gonzalo Rubilar, who said regarding the quality and value of the fruit that: “We expect prices to remain at the average of recent years at least until before the Chinese New Year, with better quality, since containers should be able to be released and transited within China more quickly, which helps quality.”
For his part, Braulio Díaz, market manager of Fruit Color (Gesex China), indicated that, “this season we have seen that importers are playing it safe, the price level has been lower than last season and has remained stable, allowing most of the fruit to be sold daily. This, added to the improvement in the release of the fruit, is generating the ability to clear the stock between warehouses, which is very good for the business in general. The quality of the fruit has greatly benefited from the decrease in delays, and this season we have had greater availability of containers, which has reduced waiting times in Chile, improving the arrival conditions.”
The Fruit Color market manager also referred to the varieties with the greatest potential.
“The cherry business grew over the last 10 years before the pandemic under the wing of a very buoyant China in economic terms that could deliver good returns for almost any quality of fruit. Now that has changed, I think it was a natural process but it was accelerated by the outbreak of Covid. I think now it is time to rethink the business, looking for quality instead of quantity. Post-New Year sales work with a limited volume and high quality, something we have not had in recent seasons.”
Diaz added, regarding the variety with the best projection in the Chinese market, that “Santina is undoubtedly the variety that brings together all the attributes to be successful in this market, however, I have seen an increase in early varieties seeking to be an alternative, some very good and others that constantly arrive with condition problems, we must continue evaluating,” he concluded.
Finally, our correspondents in China consulted directly with market inspectors, who indicated regarding the end of restrictions that, “At first, permits were required to enter the wholesale market, but after a few days, the restrictions were removed and people are moving around as if nothing had ever happened. Prices have been a bit low, but volumes are very good. Fruit is selling, which is clearly visible in the market. In terms of inspections, we have returned to the numbers of the 2021/2022 season, which was very good.”
