The import season for the UK on winter cherries got into full swing last week after a delayed start.
The season kicked off two weeks late as El Niño took hold of South America creating a warmer-than-normal winter 2008, a cool spring and intermittent rain at the start of picking.
A normal season is expected from now on, but reports suggest the Chilean cherry crop could be down by around 30 per cent on last year.
Similar issues in South Africa, which is still a burgeoning cherry source, also meant it could not capitalise on the potential opportunity.
Australia, the other potential source of supply, did not have the same kind of weather problems but the quality of their early fruit was deemed unsuitable for UK export.
Jon Clark of T&JB Produce told FPJ: “One of the biggest changes caused by the delay in the season start will be the arrival of seafreight [product] to the UK market.
“This has always come in for a Christmas promotion but this season it is likely that fruit will not arrive until just before the New Year, meaning most of the major promotional activity will be delayed until then.
“The quality of the fruit that has arrived for T&JB from both Chile and South Africa has been excellent, making the wait worthwhile.”
