Spanish greenhouse cherries are priced at 75 euros per kilogram. Last week marked the arrival of the first batch of Spanish greenhouse cherries at Van Ooijen Citrus in Ridderkerk, the Netherlands. As reported by HortiDaily, these cherries are expected to come in twelve crates, each weighing 1.5 kilograms. Lucien Ruiter, from Van Ooijen Citrus, expresses their significance, noting the scarcity of cherries globally from week 12 to week 17, with the cherry season in the southern hemisphere ending five weeks prior.

Despite the company’s citrus-oriented name, Van Ooijen Citrus has evolved into a cherry specialist. They exclusively offer these cherries on a pre-order basis, primarily selling them by the kilogram rather than by crate. Lucien explains the pricing strategy, indicating that while the cherries are priced at 75 euros per kilogram, the profit margins are slim due to transport costs totaling 20 euros per kilogram. Nonetheless, they cater to a select clientele eagerly awaiting this unique product.

Lucien highlights the advantageous location of the greenhouse, situated at higher altitudes, allowing for precise temperature control and thus, accelerated flowering and fruiting phases. This, he says, enables them to fill the gap in the market during the current cherry scarcity period. However, he predicts limited expansion in Spanish greenhouse cherry cultivation due to its high production cost.

He also cautions about the uncertainties in the Spanish cherry season’s future development, citing potential threats like frost during flowering or adverse weather conditions near harvest time, which could significantly impact yields. He recalls the previous year’s experience when hailstorms in Extremadura caused substantial damage to the cherry harvest.

Source: HortiDaily