This information is exclusive to SmartCherry from our friends at CAPCI – Argentine Chamber of Integrated Cherry Producers, Neuquén, Argentine.

The 2024/2025 season began in Argentina in week 43 in the province of Mendoza and in the Middle Valley region of the Río Negro, Río Negro Province, Patagonia, with young crops of early varieties such as Nimba and Pacific Red, starting the first air shipments destined for China.

The season showed an overall advancement of about 3 days across different productive regions and for various varieties. After a winter that adequately covered the cold hour requirements of this species, and following a spring of moderate temperatures, production has demonstrated good yields, highlighting exceptional fruit quality, which was well reflected in its arrivals in various markets.

During the veraison process, the weather played a trick on several producers in the Lower Valley of the Río Chubut; events of rain and hail caused a considerable reduction in the estimated projections for Chubut cherries, which fluctuated between 20% and 50%.

As of now, the harvest has entered its final phase in the Province of Chubut and has begun in Los Antiguos, Santa Cruz province, which will extend until mid-February with the production of the southernmost cherries in the world.

Depending on the latitude of production, for the earliest and mid-season areas, the most important varieties continue to be Santina, Lapins, Regina, Royal Dawn, and Bing, among others. In the medium and late production areas, Lapins, Sweet Heart, Regina, Kordia, Skeena, and Bing stand out.

To date, the markets of China and the United States have been the main recipients of Argentine cherries, followed by the European Union, the United Kingdom, and countries in the Middle East. Given the significant reduction in production suffered in Chubut, the exportable balance of Argentine cherries indicates that this season could reach volumes similar to those of the last season.