In W28 in the cherry landscape, the cherry assortment in the German market mainly comprised domestic and Turkish varieties. The overall interest in cherries was positive, with increased accommodations observed in certain areas compared to W27. The 2023 Hungarian cherry yield is anticipated to be slightly lower than in 2022. The expected reduction is attributed to 2022's drought, 2023's frosts, and the cold, and rainy weather conducive to fungal diseases. Nevertheless, the Hungarian cherry fruit quality remains excellent. Hungary is a leading cherry exporter, with 50-75% of production primarily destined for Germany. Around 25% of exports comprise fresh cherries, while canned cherries account for 70%, and frozen cherries for 5%. Despite a delayed start to the 2023 season due to cold weather, Hungary's cherry sector remains a strong presence in the European Union (EU) market.
The British Columbia Fruit Growers' Association (BCFGA) lodged a complaint against the dumping of United States (US) cherries in the Canadian market. The Kelowna-based organization took the first step in an anti-dumping trade action by requesting the Canada Border Services Agency to monitor the import prices and quantities. Okanagan growers are facing challenging market conditions due to the influx of US cherries. The British Columbia (BC) cherry season typically runs from mid-June to the end of August. However, in 2023, the situation is unusual, with some California cherries still available when domestic production enters full harvest. The early-season cherries from BC have been particularly impacted by the price competition. BCFGA president expressed concern over the sale of substandard cherries from California and Washington state in the Canadian retail market, indicating potential dumping practices. However, the association expects the cherry market to rebound quickly as fresh BC fruit becomes available in Jul-23 and Aug-23, displacing low quality imported fruit.
Lastly, cherry farmers in the Kashmir region in India have faced significant losses in 2023 due to hailstorms in Mar-23 and Apr-23. The early spring weather, including torrential rains and hailstorms, adversely affected the produce and led to lower market prices. Cherry farmers from the Ganderbal district indicated that the cherry orchards suffered from snowfall and cold winds during the full bloom period. Additionally, the unfavorable weather persisted even after the blossom period ended. The Kashmir region typically produces 22 thousand metric tons (mt) of cherries on 3 thousand hectares (ha) of land annually.