Diego Aguilar, president of the Chamber and owner of the Rivalara company, recalled that since 2004, local producers have coordinated strategies to cover both early and late-season cherries in the Los Antiguos region. However, he noted that the 2025 season was marked by a lack of cold temperatures in May and June, a key factor for cherry cultivation.
In addition to the climatic variables, there are economic ones. According to Aguilar, the rise in the dollar has increased the prices of agricultural inputs and packaging, creating uncertainty among suppliers and producers. Despite this, Mendoza maintains its long-standing tradition of cherry exports, with consistent shipments to Europe, the Middle East, North America, and Asia since the 1980s.
Among the most established markets are Spain, Germany, England, the Netherlands, and Belgium, while exports to Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand have grown in recent years. China remains a priority market, although it requires cold treatment during transit, which limits the advantage of early-season fruit.
Aguilar highlighted two distinguishing characteristics of Mendoza cherries: their early harvest—starting from the end of October without the need for greenhouses—and their quality, in contrast to the oversupply from Chile. “The goal is for the ‘Cherries of Argentina’ brand to be associated with a premium product,” he stated.
However, production faces obstacles such as the lack of cherry trees and rootstocks adapted to low chilling hours, which delays the expansion of new plantings. Furthermore, the presence of the fruit fly restricts access to markets like the United States and China for the earliest cherries, unless they undergo prolonged cold treatment.
Nicolás Güizzo, from the Frutas Frescas Mendoza company, agreed that the season is progressing with good prospects thanks to a favorable winter and the implementation of technologies such as drip irrigation and row covers. However, he emphasized that access to new varieties and investment in innovation are key to maintaining competitiveness.
“The market is dynamic and requires continuous adaptation,” Güizzo stated, urging everyone to work together to differentiate local products from those of international competitors.
Source: Fresh Plaza
