The Canadian cherry season is already past its peak. “This started in the third week of July and lasted until mid-August. Until then, prices remained fairly stable and comparable to other years. After that, prices rose because of a decreasing volume in Canada, and higher import duties,” says Ben Maes from Special Fruit.
A little earlier
The first arrivals occurred around the third week of July, a little earlier than in previous years. According to him, the weather was good and stable during the growing season. “This ensured a good and stable quality throughout the season. Sizes were generally a bit smaller than in previous years, because temperatures were higher.” Because of frost in Belgium, the Belgian harvest was reduced by 75 per cent. “We have definitely noticed this, most customers started Canadian cherries earlier.” Important buyers of Canadian cherries are Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. “Additionally, Germany, Scandinavia and Switzerland buy decent volumes.” The cherries are packaged as desired by the customer. “This can be in boxes of both 5 and 9 kilograms, but also in small packaging of 300, 400 or 500 grammes.”
Canadian growers plant new orchards at higher altitudes.
Higher prices
Canadian cherries are not cheap. “This is caused by the high cost of air freight and import duties. Furthermore, they are very much in demand globally, because they are the final country in the Northern Hemisphere that has the product. A high price is paid for that. Sizes, the good, dark colour, high brix and sweet flavour can also convince the customer.”
Special Fruit has been importing cherries from Canada for ten years. “Volumes vary from year to year. It also depends on the local harvest in Belgium and the Netherlands, and on the weather in Canada during production.” He expects the season can be extended in future. “In Canada growers constantly plant new orchards at higher altitudes, so that they produce increasingly longer and later. We now already have production until late August, early September, and in future, this might even be extended until mid or maybe even late September,” Ben concludes.
For more information:
Special Fruit NV
Europastraat 36
2321 Meer - Belgium
T: +32 3 317 12 96
F: +32 3 315 08 43
www.specialfruit.be
Ben.Maes@specialfruit.be