During 2022, the supply of local cherries in the United States was lower than the previous season, due to inclement weather. In the case of California, the extreme cold of spring translated into a lighter and shorter harvest. In the US market, the volume of cherries from Central California was 46% lower than in 2021 and the season was extended to week 24. Pacific Northwest states such as Washington, the main supplier of cherries , Oregon and Idaho faced cool weather during blooming season, damaging the development of the fruit, causing the smallest cherry harvest in almost a decade, while the cold made the cherries take longer to develop, causing the harvest to be delayed by a few weeks. 

Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics. (Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here).

Given the lower supply of cherries, along with almost no overlap between the California and Washington seasons, prices on average remained above the prices recorded in the last four years. Prices climbed to historic levels this season, reaching $9.41 per kilo during week 27. 

Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics. (Agronometry users can view this chart with live updates here).

For its part, Chile, which expects to increase its exports by 25% this season compared to the previous one, faces a great challenge, given that the Chinese New Year, the main sales period for Chilean cherries, will be brought forward in 2023. In the 2021/22 campaign, cherry exports to The United States grew by 91,9%, which clearly demonstrates the sector's strategy to diversify its export markets and reduce its dependence on the Chinese market. This season, ASOEX's strong promotional programs have a positive impact on export volumes to the United States.

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All US domestic farm product prices represent the cash market at the point of shipment (ie, packing house/climate-controlled warehouse, etc.). For imported fruit, price data represents the spot market at the port of entry.

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