W30: Cherry Update

In W30 in the cherry landscape, the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture's study indicates that Poland's share of the German cherry market is relatively small. In comparison, Chile exported only 3 metric tons (mt) less cherries to Germany than Poland despite the far greater shipping distance for Chile. Germany is considered the most promising market for Polish premium cherries, consuming its domestic production at over 50 thousand mt and importing another 50 thousand mt from abroad annually. Poland faces competition from Turkey, Greece, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands in the German market. Offering large batches of very high-quality cherries for an extended period will be key to increasing the presence of Polish cherries in Germany.

Russia was once the largest market of Polish cherries until 2014. Due to geopolitical issues, access to the Russian market became increasingly difficult. Belarus then became the largest market for Polish cherries in 2022. However, there are concerns that the Belarusian market may also become inaccessible in the future.

Lastly, cherry production in the Mihalıççık District of Eskişehir in Turkey yielded an average of 35 kilograms (kg) per tree in 2023, the most productive harvest period in recent years. The favorable yield is attributed to pre-harvest precipitation, the most influential factor in achieving high yields. Cherry producers harvested between 30kg/tree to 40kg/tree and 2 mt/acre. Cherries grown in the Mihalıççık District are destined for exports, with 90% of the produce being exported to countries such as Germany, England, Japan, and China.