Most Ukrainian growers reported the conclusion of the cherry season, confirmed by wholesale entities, indicating a supply shortage from local farms. Despite increased purchase prices, acquiring wholesale cherry quantities proved challenging, as noted by EastFruit analysts.
As of July 18, cherries were priced at 150-220 UAH/kg ($3.59-5.26/kg), contingent on quality, variety, and batch size. Analysts highlighted, "The new prices were already at least 10% higher than last week."
This season, Ukrainian cherry prices often surpassed last year's, attributed to decreased fruit yield due to adverse weather in late spring and early summer. Analysts stated, "The high cost often led to a decrease in demand for this berry. Market participants explained this by saying that end consumers were not willing to buy local berries at such high prices."
Last year, the cherry season ended a week later, with final shipments priced 45% lower. Market players attribute the current price disparity to reduced yields and increased cultivation costs.
Source: Agro News
