This season, sweet cherries and especially sour cherries achieved unprecedented prices in Ukraine, according to Ksenia Guseva, fruit and vegetable market expert at APK-Inform. Farm-gate prices for sweet cherries closed the season at 150–220 UAH/kg (€4–5), while sour cherries reached 110–130 UAH/kg (€3–3.50). For comparison, in previous years, sour cherries rarely exceeded 60 UAH/kg, and last year sold for 50–70 UAH/kg. Sweet cherry prices were also elevated at 80–120 UAH/kg (€2–3).
The main driver behind the surge was severe frost damage, which caused significant crop losses: 40–50% for sweet cherries and up to 90% for sour cherries, Guseva noted. The shortage was so acute that remaining sour cherries were quickly snapped up from markets, a trend mirrored in other producing countries. Despite this year's challenges, experts see strong potential for expanding cherry cultivation in Ukraine, particularly for freezing and processing.
Source: agrotimes.ua
