This year, Uzbekistan commenced its massive export of sweet cherries in early May. As EastFruit reported, demand surged in international markets mainly due to reduced stone fruit yields in Eastern Europe and Turkey, attributed to April frosts.
Uzbekistan, however, benefited from favorable winter and early spring weather conditions, leading to predictions of a higher sweet cherry harvest. However, the proportion of large-caliber cherries remains limited.
The head of Fergana EximAgro LLC, Yorqin Inamov, noted, "We are currently harvesting mid-season cherry varieties. Despite a generally good yield, the volume of large-caliber sweet cherries available for export is very limited. Assembling large export consignments of this grade has become quite a challenge this season."
Inamov adds that the demand for Uzbek cherries has resulted in steep procurement prices due to poor harvests in Turkey and parts of Europe. Local traders have been selling 26+ caliber cherries to exporters at prices reaching 60,000 UZS/kg, approximately $4.70.
Farrukh Abdukhalimov from PSB Produccion Vegetal in Uzbekistan notes that unusually high temperatures in late April and early May accelerated the ripening process, affecting cherry quality. "The shortening of the growing period, especially during the stage when cherries typically increase in size, has resulted in a relatively low share of large-caliber cherries in mid-season varieties. This season, the average fruit size in these varieties is around 24 mm, compared to 26 mm in previous years," Abdukhalimov explains.
Source: EastFruit