The sector has great expectations for this year's Chilean cherry campaign in the United States. In 2020, Chile exported 4,638 tons of cherries to the US. One year later it exported 7,615 tons and, so far in 2022, the country has already sent 9,328 tons to the US, according to figures from the Office of Agricultural Studies and Policies (Odepa).
“We expect a large volume increase in the US market, and we'll launch an expanded marketing program that will encompass both retail and consumer promotions,” stated Karen Brux, marketing director of the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA), the US office of the Association of Exporters (Asoex).
The CFFA is carrying out a marketing campaign inviting consumers to "Cherrish Every Moment" with the "Cherries from Chile". The CFFA is carrying out this campaign through ads in retail, point-of-sale material, social media posts, and a radio campaign in select U.S. cities, Brux explained. “For the first time, we are also designing and producing retail bins for cherries.”
“During the 2021/22 season, cherry exports to the United States grew by 94%, which is a clear demonstration of the industry's strategy to diversify its export markets. We expect exports to the United States to double again in the 2022/23 campaign,” the representative of the CFFA stated.
The industry projects a 25% growth
In just a few years, Chile has become the southern hemisphere's leading cherry supplier, managing to concentrate 96% of the global supply in the counter-station after its industry's rapid growth. The country went from exporting 179,927 tons of cherries in the 2018/19 season to 356,000 tons last year, i.e. a 98% increase in just 3 years. This season, the industry is projecting another 25% increase, Brux stated.
Source: redagricola.com