The price of cherries from Shandong has been low since the cherries entered the market. Most supermarkets and fruit stores are supplied by cherry production areas in Ji'nan, Shandong. The price in production areas is between 5-25 yuan [0.72-3.62 USD] per 0.5 kg, while the price of imported cherries remains high. Some traders sell imported cherries for as much as 68 yuan [9.86 USD] per 0.5 kg.
One fruit store owner explained that the local cherries are not only smaller than imported cherries, but the flavor of imported cherries is also superior. "The flavor of local Red Light cherries is relatively sour. Imported cherries are sweeter." However, the shop owner also indicated that his focus shifted from imported cherries to local cherries as soon as they entered the market. "The overall quality of local cherries is not that different from imported cherries, but the price is much lower. Customers therefore prefer local cherries."
The price of cherries in e-commerce platforms is currently around 45 yuan [6.52 USD] per 0.5 kg. Most of the cherries in online stores come from Yantai and Dalian. The main product variety is the Early Beauty. Product quality is high and the size of the cherries is around 26-30 mm. These are first-grade cherries. One trader stated that this year's cherry price is already slightly below the price of last year. The reason for this development is as follows: even though cherry orchards suffered from a cold current during spring, similar to the one last year, this time farmers were better prepared and able to limit the impact of extreme weather conditions.
Source: readmeok.com