Over the past week, cool and rainy weather has prevailed across most of Ukraine, which has directly impacted the quality of locally grown sweet cherries. According to analysts at the EastFruit project, the majority of sweet cherries currently available on the market are of medium or low quality. Meanwhile, supply continues to increase gradually, putting downward pressure on prices. Growers are deeply concerned about the ongoing rainfall, which they believe could negatively affect both the overall harvest volume and fruit quality this season.
As of now, local sweet cherries are being sold on Ukraine’s domestic market at prices ranging from UAH 140 to 200 per kg ($3.36–4.80/kg), which is, on average, 13% lower than at the end of last week. Despite the limited supply of this stone fruit on the Ukrainian market, demand in the segment remains modest. In addition, sellers of lower-quality cherries are eager to sell off such products quickly, gradually reducing their prices.
A key factor driving the decline in wholesale prices has been the sharp drop in fruit quality. The deterioration is largely due to rainy conditions in the main production regions. Excess moisture causes the cherries to crack while still on the trees, making it nearly impossible to sell them at premium prices.
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That said, it’s worth noting that current prices for locally grown sweet cherries in Ukraine are still, on average, three times higher than during the same period last year.
More detailed insights on the sweet cherry market and other fruits and vegetables in Ukraine are available on the EastFruit website.
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