Most Ukrainian orchard owners have reported the end of the sweet cherry sales season this week, according to analysts from the EastFruit project. This information is also confirmed by wholesale companies, which have noted a shortage of supply from local producers. Even attempts to secure the necessary wholesale volumes by offering higher procurement prices for new batches have largely failed.
As of today, wholesale lots of sweet cherries from local farms are being sold at prices ranging from 150 to 220 UAH/kg ($3.59–5.26/kg), depending on quality, variety, and volume. Analysts note that these prices are at least 10% higher than last week.
Throughout the current season, sweet cherry prices on Ukraine’s domestic market have often exceeded last year’s levels. This is primarily due to a decline in yields caused by unfavorable weather conditions at the end of spring and the beginning of summer. The high prices have frequently led to reduced consumer demand, as market participants explained that end buyers were not ready to pay such elevated prices for local cherries.
Read also: New Season Apples in Ukraine Are Nearly Three Times More Expensive Than Last Year
It is worth noting that last year, the cherry season in Ukraine ended about a week later, but the final batches of cherries were sold at an average of 45% lower prices compared to this season. According to key market players, this significant price difference stems from both lower cherry yields and a sharp increase in production costs.
For more detailed information on the sweet cherry market and other fruit and vegetable sectors in Ukraine, visit EastFruit’s website.
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