How Is the Value Chain of Cherries Formed?

Greek cherries end up in the export market after passing through three leading market players (Producers, Associations, Wholesalers, and others).

Route #1: Producers -> Associations -> Exporters

Route #2: Producers -> Wholesalers -> Exporters

Route #3: Producers -> Exporters

Many FFV producers are fragmented in Greece, so most of the export supplies of Greece cherries are from either the FFV product association (cooperatives), who aggregate the producers of the region and process (package) the cherries of the region. Producers who directly export their products or use the wholesale market to export their products are extremely rare.

Protofanousis is the largest Greek exporter of cherries, distributing around 11,000 tons annually. Its main markets are Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Poland, the UK and Romania, while more recently exports have extended to Scandinavian countries.

Process to Packaging : The production comes from Pella and is fully certified by GlobalGAP The fruit is first brought to a refrigerated storage facility maintained by the company in Kerasia, Pella, in the center of a region where the cherry is the main crop and cherry orchards extend into the foothills of the Northern [Voras] Mountains to an altitude of 1,100 meters.

The cherries go through a pre-cooling process with a special hydro cooler at the same facility. Packing takes place the next morning at the Protofanousi processing center at Ionia in Thessaloniki. A sophisticated electronic calibrator ensures accurate sorting on the basis of size and color.

Continuous monitoring of the cherry orchards and harvesting at the appropriate stage of ripeness, in conjunction with maintaining the "cold chain”, contributes to consistently high fruit quality.