Turkey's cherry export industry has enjoyed a bumper campaign this year, according to a new GAIN report by the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service on the country's stonefruit season.
According to the report fresh cherry shipments are set to hit a record 65,000 tonnes in 2010 while production has remained similar to 2009 at 600,000t. The report noted that exports had increased from 52,000t to 65,000t this year.
Germany remained the top market for Turkish cherries, importing just short of 17,000t, followed by Bulgaria at 15,304t and Russia with 14,680t.
Meanwhile, Turkey's peach and nectarine production bounced back from a lower campaign in 2009 to hit a total 550,000t, up from 547,000t last year.
Fresh exports are expected to stay flat at 32,000t, with Middle Eastern countries (Iran with 6,807t, Saudi Arabia with 4,692t) and Russia (4,009t) at the top of the importer list.
