China will become one of the main focuses for US Northwest cherry export programmes over the coming years, according to industry marketing body Northwest Cherries.
China is now Northwest Cherries second-largest market, absorbing 10 per cent of total export volumes, after Canada, which also imports around 10 per cent of Northwest Cherries volumes, the marketing body's Keith Hu told Fruitnet.
South Korea also offers consistently good returns, he added. Last year, Northwest Cherries shipped 1.2m boxes to South Korea, he said.
Northwest Cherries is also adding smaller South East Asian markets to its export programme, Hu said. The group started shipping to the Philippines last year, and sees potential for growth there.
This year the organisation will trial exports to North Myanmar and Cambodia for the first time, Hu said.
Northwest Cherries is experiencing significant growth in sales to Vietnam, which it started shipping to three years ago.
Thailand represents the group's largest export market in South East Asia, followed by Singapore, and now Vietnam, which has overtaken Malaysia as third-largest market in that region.
'There is still room for export growth in Vietnam,' said Hu.
Northwest Cherries works with key retail market chains across Asia to promote its fruit, via sampling and consumer education activities.
'There is room for growth in our export markets. The opportunities in future will continue to be in East Asia and maybe South East Asia,' said Hu.
The US Northwest region is currently experiencing a very cold winter - its coldest in eight years, he added. The 2017 Northwest cherry season is likely to start later than usual. 'It is too early to give any predictions regarding the new crop,' Hu said.
