Overall, cherry production in Dalian remains stable this year. However, due to earlier weather conditions and fruit set outcomes, the supply of premium large-sized fruit is tight, and prices for high-end produce have seen a slight year-on-year increase.
Yingzhi International Trade Co., Ltd. is an enterprise specializing in the export of fruits and vegetables, equipped with professional cold chain technology. Adhering to the business philosophy of “only premium quality, no commodity-grade products,” the company maintains strict standards in quality control and freshness preservation.
According to Manager Wang, head of the company’s export department, Dalian is the largest facility-based cherry production region in China, with core growing areas mainly concentrated in Jinpu New District (Jinzhou), Wafangdian Delisi, Pulandian, and Zhuanghe. “At present, cherries from heated and non-heated greenhouses have entered the late sales stage, while open-field cherries are expected to enter large-scale marketing from late May onward. The overall supply period can last until July, offering the longest staggered supply advantage in the country and providing stable supply security for overseas market orders.”
“The most notable feature of this year’s overall market is the clear shortage of premium-quality fruit,” said Manager Wang. This year, fruit set rates in some production areas have declined slightly compared to previous years. In particular, the quantity of large-sized premium fruit above 28mm has decreased, leading to significantly intensified competition for high-end market procurement.
It is understood that the total cherry planting area in Dalian is approximately 24,000 hectares, with an annual output of about 265,000 tons. Overall commodity-grade supply remains relatively stable, but the scarcity of premium large fruit has kept high-end cherry prices firm, while prices for regular commodity-grade fruit have remained generally steady.
In terms of quality, Dalian cherries benefit from the advantages of the golden fruit-growing belt at 39° north latitude. With a significant temperature difference between day and night, the fruit typically achieves a Brix of 18–22, featuring thick flesh, high firmness, and good storability and transportability, making them especially suitable for long-distance sea freight exports. The mainstream varieties in the export market remain Meizao, E8, and Huihuang 1-5 series.
“Overseas customer demand for fruit with high firmness, large size, and uniform color remains strong this year. In particular, markets in Southeast Asia and the Middle East have shown steadily increasing recognition of high-end Dalian cherries. Overall export orders are relatively stable, but customers have significantly raised their requirements for grading standards, making the procurement of premium fruit more difficult than in previous years,” said Manager Wang.
Manager Wang believes that as open-field cherries gradually increase in volume, overall market supply will rise notably. However, the shortage of premium-quality fruit is unlikely to ease in the short term.
At the same time, grading variations across production areas are quite evident this year: large-sized premium fruit maintains stable quality, while some small to medium commodity-grade fruit suffers from inconsistencies in size, color, and ripeness. This has become a key factor driving current market price differentiation and quality disputes.
Source: Fresh Plaza
