Today marks the Spring Festival, the Lunar New Year in China, and cherries enter the peak sales season. According to one of the major e-commerce platforms in the Asian country, searches for cherries have surged by 127 percent in the first week of January 2025 compared to a year ago. A supermarket chain reports a remarkable 200 percent increase in sales, as several shipments of imported cherries arrive by sea at the main ports of the giant Asian nation, adding a vibrant red touch to the consumer market during these festive days.
Surge in Demand and Rapid Selling
On online platforms like JD.com, Taobao, and Meituan, imported cherries in โoriginal Chilean boxesโ of various categories and types of packaging become some of the favorite exotic goods for preparations for the Spring Festival. In shopping centers and markets across Beijing, high-quality Chilean cherries sell out quickly as soon as they are placed on the shelves.
Consumer Experiences
In a Guoduomei fruit chain store in Beijing, a man named Zhou purchases a 2.5-kilogram box of 3J category cherries. โCherries have become an essential item in our Lunar New Year shopping. They are big, sweet, and their intense red color makes them perfect for celebrating the Spring Festival,โ Zhou says. Cao Yanpeng, vice president of fresh fruit purchases at Guoduomei, adds, โSince the cherries have arrived, sales are incredible.โ
Preference for Chilean Cherries
The main countries of origin for China’s cherry imports include Chile, New Zealand, and Australia. Chile, one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of cherries, offers a reasonable price-quality ratio, and its peak production season aligns perfectly with the Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year. These factors lead to Chilean imports representing over 80 percent of all cherry exports from Chile.
Quality Assurance
According to specialists, Chilean cherries reach consumers in excellent condition not only because they are large and firm enough to withstand impacts during shipping and storage but also due to meticulous management during cultivation, harvesting, and transportation. This includes the use of calcium fertilizers and several measures to ensure they stay fresh during transport and storage for 20 to 30 days.
Increase in Sales on Digital Platforms
Today, on the e-commerce platform Pinduoduo, sellers experience a significant uptick in sales of cherries. Wu Dongbao, a trader from Guangzhou, notes that the freshly arrived cherries from Chile are selling out rapidly. Figures from Meituan highlight the cherry consumption boom, and the 7FRESH supermarket chain reports a stunning 200 percent increase in cherry sales since the end of last year.
Variety and Accessibility in the Market
On various online platforms and in physical supermarkets, cherries are available in a wide range of presentations, from small individual portions to large boxes meant for family sharing. They come in various calibers, from J to 5J, catering to all tastes and budgets. The popularity of Chilean cherries in China stems from a healthy trade relationship between both countries, bolstered by the free trade agreement signed in 2005.
Expectations for the New Year
As the festivities of the Spring Festival unfold, the excitement among Chinese consumers for this exotic fruit continues to grow. Many companies increase their cherry stocks, anticipating a surge in demand after Xiaonian, when sacrifices are made to the kitchen god. A manager at a 7FRESH store in Beijing expresses, โWe hope that the massive sale of cherries brings us a prosperous Lunar New Year.โ
From: La Tercera and Xinhgua