The cultivation of sweet cherry in China began in the 1870s, but in the 1980s large-scale commercial cultivation started. The dominant cultivation areas are Bohai Bay, and the area along the Longhai Reilway.
The cherry industry has developed rapidly in recent years in the high-altitude areas of southwest and northwest China. The main varieties include Hongdeng, Tieton, Brooks, Rainier and recently Russian 8, Kordia, while they are also developing new varieties.
According to the Cherry Section of the Chinese Society for Horticultural Science in 2021, the total sweet cherry planting area has reached more than 240,000 hectares, with production of more than 1.5 million tons in China in 2021. It is expected the cherry production will exceed 1.7 million tons in 2023. Figures shared in the context of the 9th International Cherry Symposium.
China is the largest cherry consumption country in the world. The cherry imports have been growing rapidly since 2018, reaching 313,700 tons in 2021. The total imports of cherry accounts for 54% of the world, while the total consumption reaches 23% worldwide.
Chile, Australia, New Zealand in the southern hemisphere are the main import countries.
See the video provided by the 9th International Cherry Symposium organization below:
https://smartcherry.world/videos/9th-international-cherry-symposium-chinese-cherry-market-overview/