Analysts from EastFruit share an inspiring observation: in Dushanbe, the capital of dynamically developing country Tajikistan, residents now have access to imported premium fruits throughout the year. On the supermarket shelves one can find fresh cherries from Chile priced at 991 somoni per kilogram – roughly equivalent to US $107.
In the summer, cherries in Tajikistan are a beloved and affordable fruit for everyone and one can easily buy them for about US $2 per kilogram at bazaars and shops – making them part of everyday pleasure. Yet only a few years ago, nobody could even dream that during winter you could buy top-quality cherries that had travelled all the way from Chile and other Southern Hemisphere countries! Today, however, this is already a fact – you can buy cherries at a supermarket right now, and this emphasizes the rising standard of living.
Of course, a cherry price exceeding that of meat (the most valuable food for local consumers) makes them accessible to far from everyone. However, in a country whose economy is growing rapidly thanks to entrepreneurship and growing international trade, more and more people are succeeding: businessmen, company owners, professionals – for whom buying cherries in winter is a way to underline their achievements, delight loved ones, or simply enjoy a moment of luxury.
Also see: 10 fun facts about importance of dried apricots for Tajikistan
This trend illustrates positive change in Tajikistan: from local affordable products to global delicacies that overcome thousands of kilometres. The cherry is becoming a symbol of progress and integration into the global economy, inspiring new heights. Interestingly, a similar phenomenon was observed in China, where cherries in winter became a symbol of country development and consumer status.
Interestingly, in Tajikistan – where the true symbol of the country is the dried apricot (kuraga), which was once even called an “alternative currency” – consumption of dried fruits, according to EastFruit, is rapidly declining. And this is happening precisely because consumers increasingly have the means to buy fresh fruits in winter.
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