Gitnux/Report 2026

Cherry Industry Statistics

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Cherry Industry Statistics
Samuel NorbergWritten by Samuel Norberg·Fact-checked by Maya Johansson
Published
How this report is researched
01Editorial Scope

Gitnux editors write the brief first: the topic, the inclusion rules, and the frame for what belongs.

02Source Research

Agents search the published record and log every extracted figure back to the passage it came from.

Read our full methodology →

Search agents attach provenance to every extracted figure.

Next review: within 39 days

01 Industry overview

The cherry industry at a glance

The cherry industry remains globally significant, with fresh production forecast at 4.6 million metric tons in 2025/26 despite weather-related declines in several major producing regions.

$73.28B[100]
Global market size, 2025
7.41%[100]
Forecast CAGR, 2026–2034
4.6M MT[70]
Global fresh production, 2025/26
670,000 MT[70]
Chile exports, 2025/26
Market size
Fortune Business Insights estimates the global cherry market at $73.28 billion in 2025 and $78.71 billion in 2026. The estimate covers sweet and sour cherries across fresh and processed applications.[100]
Forecast & CAGR
The global cherry market is projected to reach $139.43 billion by 2034, implying a 7.41% compound annual growth rate from 2026 to 2034. Separately, USDA forecasts global fresh cherry production to decline more than 10% to 4.638 million metric tons in 2025/26 because of smaller crops in Turkey, the European Union and the United States.[100][70]
Market share & regions
USDA forecasts China at 900,000 metric tons of fresh cherry production in 2025/26, followed by Chile at 730,000 metric tons, the European Union at 644,000 metric tons and the United States at 403,000 metric tons. Chile is expected to export 670,000 metric tons, making it the dominant exporter in the global fresh-cherry trade.[70]
Segmentation
The market is commonly segmented by product into sweet and sour cherries; by application into direct consumption, processed foods, snacks and confectionery, dairy products, jams and juice, and alcoholic beverages; and by channel into supermarkets, convenience stores and online retail.[100][101]
Key players & concentration
Production is concentrated among a small group of countries: China, Chile, the European Union, Turkey and the United States together account for about 66% of USDA's 2025/26 forecast global fresh production. Export concentration is higher, with Chile forecast to supply about 71% of global fresh cherry exports in 2025/26.[70]
Pricing
USDA's 2025 crop-year insurance prices for fresh sweet cherries were $2.59 per pound in California and $2.48 in Michigan, compared with $0.86 per pound in other states. Processing prices were lower, at $0.72 per pound in Oregon and Washington and $0.34 per pound in Michigan.[78]
Trends, drivers & challenges
Expansion in Chile and China is supporting supply, while health-oriented demand, premium varieties and improved cold-chain logistics support market growth. Weather remains a major risk: USDA expects 2025/26 production to fall because of smaller crops in Turkey, the European Union and the United States, while U.S. exporters reported quality, logistics, tariff and congestion pressures in China during the 2025 season.[70]
Consumer behavior & competition
China remains the pivotal import market: USDA forecasts Chinese fresh cherry imports at 600,000 metric tons in 2025/26, up 46,000 tons year over year. Premium varieties are sold through e-commerce platforms, high-end supermarkets and specialty fruit retailers, while Canadian and expanding domestic Chinese production intensify competition for U.S. suppliers.[70]
M&A
Recent consolidation includes Legendary Fruit Company's agreement to acquire Washington apple and cherry supplier Brewster Heights Packing & Orchards, known as Gebbers Farms. The combined operations are expected to manage more than 6,000 hectares and produce about 4.5 million cartons of cherries annually.[36]
Regulation
In the United States, Federal Marketing Order 930 covers tart cherries grown in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. It authorizes quality rules, research and promotion, and reserve-pool volume controls; USDA reported in March 2025 that producers and processors had approved amendments to the order.[102]
Latest news
USDA's September 2025 outlook forecasts global fresh cherry production at 4.638 million metric tons in 2025/26, down from 5.197 million tons in 2024/25. Chile is expected to raise production to 730,000 metric tons and exports to 670,000 tons, while China imports are forecast to reach a record 600,000 tons.[70]
report visual · Projection

United States sweet cherry production

United States sweet cherry production grew from 332 1,000 tons in 2019 to 354 1,000 tons in 2023.

332 1,000 tons
Start
+1.62%
CAGR · 4y
354 1,000 tons
Projected
20192023
source-verifiednass.usda.gov2024

02 Ranking

Top 10 Companies in the Cherry Industry

The leading companies in the cherry industry, ranked on market impact, performance, momentum, innovation and brand popularity.

Updated November 10, 2026 · Next review December 10, 2026

Verdict

Stemilt Growers leads Gitnux's 2026 cherry ranking with an Overall score of 9.5, with fresh cherry growing, packing and sales across the United States. Unifrutti is the highest-ranked integrated fruit exporter at 9.2, driven by integrated fruit growing and exports, including cherries.

Ranked by Overall score · How we score ↓

Editor's top 3 picks

Where to start, by need.

  1. #1 Overall · Leader in cherry packing & marketing

    Stemilt Growers

    US

    Ranked #1 · 9.5 · Cherry packing & marketing

    Why we picked it: Its segment combines growing with packing and sales, with operations positioned for fresh-cherry throughput.

    See in ranking ↓Visit stemilt.com ↗

  2. Leader in integrated cherry export

    Unifrutti

    AE

    Ranked #2 · 9.2 · Integrated cherry export

    Why we picked it: Its integrated export model covers cherries within a combined growing and outbound sales structure.

    See in ranking ↓Visit unifrutti.com ↗

  3. Leader in fresh cherry growing

    Frusan

    CL

    Ranked #3 · 9.0 · Fresh cherry growing

    Why we picked it: Its Chile-based focus aligns with forecast Chile export scale of 670,000 metric tons in 2025/26.

    See in ranking ↓Visit frusan.cl ↗

Pick 1 is the #1 company overall. Picks 2 and 3 are the highest-ranked companies in the top 5 that add a new segment.

Full ranking

Sort by
Top 10 companies in the cherry industry, 2026 – Gitnux ranking
#CompanyOverall ↓Company snapshot
1

Stemilt Growers

Cherry packing & marketing · US

9.5
2

Unifrutti

Integrated cherry export · AE

9.2
3

Frusan

Fresh cherry growing · CL

9.0
4

Copefrut

Fresh cherry growing · CL

8.9
5

Chelan Fresh

Cherry packing & marketing · US

8.9
6

Cherry Central Cooperative

Fresh cherry growing · US

8.8
7

Dole plc

Integrated cherry export · IE

8.7
8

Rainier Fruit Company

Cherry packing & marketing · US

8.7
9

CherryHill Orchards

Fresh cherry growing · AU

7.4
10

Alara Agri

Fresh cherry growing · TR

7.4

How we score

  • Impact (30%): scale and weight in the market (revenue, market share, employees, market position).
  • Performance (20%): recent revenue growth and operating margin; an analyst assessment where a company does not publish them.
  • Momentum (20%): growth trajectory and future potential.
  • Innovation (15%): R&D intensity and how technologically advanced the company is.

Popularity (brand search demand, 15%) counts toward Overall but is not published as a column. Overall leaves out what is not known.

Scale Scores are shown on a 7–10 scale with one decimal; bars start at 7.0.

Cadence Recalculated when new figures are published; next review December 10, 2026.

Independence. Rankings are editorially independent. Scores, ranks, picks and the verdict follow the method above; no company can pay to change them.

Cite this ranking

APA

Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 10). Top 10 companies in the cherry industry. In Cherry Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cherry-industry-statistics/#top-companies

04 Statistics

Technology & Innovation

This section shows measurable movement from orchard robotics to packing and traceability. It includes examples like an optical sorter analyzing at 15 fruit per second and a 2-year Australian RFID-to-QR traceability pilot.

AI in the cherry industry

  • 2015 was the start year for Yamagata University’s automatic cherry-harvesting robot development under the prefecture’s World’s No. 1 Cherry Project.[1]
  • $68 million was the value of Oregon cherry production in 2024, in an industry targeted by Oregon State University’s robotics and artificial-intelligence orchard-management work.[2]
  • 50 fruit are used as the standard laboratory sample size in Washington State University’s cherry breeding program before optical and software-assisted analysis.[3]
  • 3,000 new Phase 1 sweet-cherry seedlings were planted by Washington State University during the three years before March 2025.[3]
  • Since 2018, Oregon State University researchers have developed robotics and artificial-intelligence tools for orchard management involving Oregon’s cherry industry.[2]
  • 70% of Japan’s cherries are produced in Yamagata Prefecture, where researchers are developing an automatic cherry-harvesting robot.[1]

Automation in the cherry industry

  • 10,000 tons per year is the average volume cherry packers need to justify new optical-technology lines.[4]
  • 2024 was the publication year of a Japanese study analyzing cherry-harvesting operations to improve harvesting-robot speed.[5]
  • 50 fruit is the standard laboratory sample size that Washington State University’s optical sorter is intended to supplement in cherry breeding.[3]
  • 30%–40% is the reported reduction in labor demand from automated warehouse technologies used by cherry-industry packers.[4]
  • 23% was the reported yield increase from artificial pollination in a large-scale sweet-cherry trial.[3]
  • 1 ton per acre was the reported yield increase from artificial pollination in the same large-scale Bing cherry trial.[3]

Digital Transformation in the agriculture and food production sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across the EU agri-food industrial ecosystem, 20% of companies had a concrete digital-transformation strategy in 2024.[6]
  • Among EU food-manufacturing enterprises, 51.2% had very low digital intensity in 2023, down from 55.1% in 2021.[6]
  • Among EU food-manufacturing enterprises, 3.4% had very high digital intensity in 2023, compared with 2.1% in 2021.[6]
  • In the United States, 61% of farmers reported adopting digital agronomy technologies in 2024.[7]
  • Among EU food-manufacturing enterprises, 15.4% had high digital intensity in 2023, compared with 13.0% in 2021.[6]

Technology Adoption in the agriculture and food production sector (sector benchmark)

  • In Chile, 12% of agricultural production units reported using a technological tool such as mobile applications, drones, or sensors in 2021.[8]
  • In Czechia, 30% of crop-production farmers used at least one precision-agriculture technology in 2023.[8]
  • In Germany, 85.5% of surveyed farms used at least one digital technology in 2024–2025.[8]
  • Across EU farms, 43% had internet access, 11% used farm-management information systems, and 7% used robotics in 2023.[8]
  • In Canada, 84% of field-crop operations used GPS equipment in 2021.[8]
  • Across EU farms with utilised agricultural area, about 18% used some form of precision-farming technology or practice in 2023.[8]

Cloud Computing in the agriculture and food production sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across EU agri-food businesses, 26% used cloud computing in 2023.[6]
  • Among EU large businesses, 78% purchased cloud-computing services in 2023, compared with 44% of SMEs.[9]
  • Across EU agri-food businesses, 37% used cloud computing in 2024, up from 26% in 2023.[6]
  • Across EU businesses, 45% purchased cloud-computing services in 2023.[9]

Big Data in the agriculture and food production sector (sector benchmark)

  • In Germany, 5.0% of surveyed farms used artificial-intelligence or big-data technologies in 2024–2025.[8]
  • Across EU agri-food businesses, 17% used big-data technologies in 2023.[6]
  • Across EU agri-food businesses, 307 startups focused on artificial intelligence and big data were formed between 2015 and 2023.[6]

05 Statistics

Data & Analytics

This section quantifies data capture, detection accuracy, and data-quality limits across cherry operations. It includes a sensor-network maturity method with a 5% mean-squared-error rate and a manufacturing datapoint that 44% of AI projects failed due to poor data quality in 2025.

Business intelligence in the cherry industry

  • 112 million boxes were Chilean cherry shipments by the end of the 2025–2026 season, equivalent to approximately 561,000 tonnes.[10]
  • 443,640 tons of sweet cherries were produced in Washington in 2023, the largest U.S. state-level production total reported in the analysis.[11]
  • 58,765 tons of sweet cherries were produced in Oregon in 2023, according to the U.S. industry analysis based on USDA datasets.[11]
  • 87% of Chilean fresh-cherry export volume went to China during the 2025–2026 season, according to an industry report citing ODEPA data.[10]
  • 90%+ of U.S. sweet-cherry production came from Washington, California and Oregon in 2023, providing a regional concentration measure for industry market intelligence.[11]
  • 317,736 tons of sweet cherries were produced in California in 2023, making it the second-largest U.S. producing state in the cited analysis.[11]

Data analytics in the cherry industry

  • ±0.6 millimetres was the size-measurement error achieved by the cherry computer-vision prototype in testing.[12]
  • 99% was the approximate YOLOv3 fruit-detection accuracy reported for a sweet-cherry phenotyping method using image data.[13]
  • 25% was the maximum production-estimation error reported for the Chilean computer-vision system under real orchard conditions.[14]
  • 10 samples per minute was the average processing speed of the prototype measuring cherry color and size.[12]
  • 4 cherry-size classes were identified by the Chilean vision system to improve production characterization for export markets.[14]
  • 5% was the mean-squared-error rate achieved by a sensor-network method estimating sweet-cherry maturity-color distribution.[15]

Data Quality in the agriculture and food production sector (sector benchmark)

  • 44% of manufacturers reported that AI projects had failed because of poor data quality in 2025, according to a survey of manufacturing organizations.[16]
  • 30% of manufacturing respondents identified poor-quality data as one of their top three challenges when working with AI-related data in 2024.[17]
  • 42% of manufacturers reported having a process to verify operational data accuracy or quality in 2025, indicating that most lacked a formal validation process.[17]
  • 41% of manufacturers said they distrusted the data used for supply-chain operations in 2025, reflecting persistent data-quality concerns in production and procurement.[16]
  • 49% of manufacturing respondents rated their operational data as having low AI readiness in 2024, meaning it was insufficiently labeled, contextualized, governed or accessible.[17]

Data Governance in the agriculture and food production sector (sector benchmark)

  • 40% of food and beverage professionals worldwide identified disconnected systems and data as their biggest barrier to moving faster in 2026.[18]
  • 6% of food and beverage leaders reported fully integrated digital systems in 2025, despite 82% saying technology adoption was a strategic priority.[18]
  • 69% of food and beverage companies still relied on spreadsheets and email for core operations in 2025, limiting standardized access and control of business data.[18]
  • 61% of supply-management organizations reported having a dedicated data-governance function in 2024, while 90% agreed that data governance was necessary.[19]
  • 15% of manufacturers said their data strategy was entirely aligned with their overall business strategy in 2024, while 31% said it was very closely aligned.[17]
  • 61% of manufacturers reported having a corporate-wide governance plan, strategy or formal guidelines for how data is collected, organized, accessed and used in 2024.[17]

KPIs in the cherry industry

  • $7.90 million was the value of Utah tart-cherry utilized production in 2023, up 44% from 2022.[20]
  • 16,329 tons was Utah tart-cherry production in 2024, representing 17.6% of U.S. production according to the cited yield-monitor study.[21]
  • 74,270 tons of U.S. sweet cherries were utilized for processing in 2024, a key channel-mix KPI for the industry.[22]
  • 300,000 pounds of U.S. tart cherries were sold for the fresh market in 2024, while nearly all remaining utilized production went to processing.[22]
  • 3.84 tons per acre was the average U.S. sweet-cherry yield in 2024 across comparable reporting states.[22]
  • 7,430 pounds per acre was the average U.S. tart-cherry yield in 2024 across comparable reporting states.[22]

06 Statistics

Strategy & Growth

This section ties production and trade forecasts to competitive dynamics and product positioning. It highlights USDA expectations that China imports reach 600,000 metric tons in 2025/26 and Chile exports reach 670,000 metric tons.

Growth in the cherry industry

  • 415,000 metric tons of cherry imports were projected for China in 2024/25, representing 7% growth as Chilean and U.S. supplies increased.[23]
  • 5.0 million metric tons of cherries were forecast for global production in 2024/25, slightly above the previous season.[23]
  • 850,000 metric tons of cherry production were forecast for China in 2024/25, an increase of 50,000 metric tons supported by expanded planted area.[23]
  • 900,000 metric tons of cherry production were projected for Turkey in 2024/25, down 48,000 metric tons from the previous forecast.[23]
  • 759,000 metric tons of cherries were projected for global exports in 2024/25, nearly matching the previous record.[23]
  • 1.3 million metric tons of cherries were forecast for China’s domestic consumption in 2024/25, more than double the level six years earlier.[23]

Differentiation in the cherry industry

  • 200 cherry-based products were offered by Cherry Republic, using Michigan Montmorency tart cherries across confectionery, sauces, beverages and other categories.[24]
  • 26% of surveyed sweet-cherry consumers were classified in the flavor-sensitive segment in a U.S. consumer study.[25]
  • 5 times the value per hectare was reported for a premium New Zealand cherry crop compared with grapes in a good year.[26]
  • 9% growth was projected for the 2025 Northwest U.S. cherry crop, while CMI Orchards positioned its Skylar Rae variety in the premium category.[27]
  • 6 attributes—color, size, firmness, sweetness, flavor and shelf life—were evaluated in a U.S. sweet-cherry choice experiment.[28]
  • 30 varieties or more were reported as being grown commercially in Victoria, Australia, supporting differentiated harvest timing and quality positioning.[29]

Mergers and acquisitions in the cherry industry

  • 2 production facilities were added through the acquisition of Pacific Coast Producers’ Salem and The Dalles operations, which include maraschino-cherry production.[30]
  • 1 acquisition was completed when Seneca Foods bought Diana Fruit Company, a leading provider of maraschino and fruit-cocktail cherries.[31]
  • 1 acquisition was completed when Oregon Cherry Growers bought Bell Foods International’s cherry operations as part of a managed growth strategy.[32]
  • 1 new packing venture, Katco Packing, was formed by Oppy, Katicich Ranch and Brookside to combine California cherry brands and packing capabilities.[33]
  • 1 acquisition was completed when Seneca Foods bought Gray & Company in 2015, adding the CherryMan maraschino-cherry business.[34]
  • 1 joint venture was formed by Lindis Crossing Station Cherries and Golden Plains Orchard to expand a Central Otago cherry orchard.[35]

Strategic partnerships in the cherry industry

  • 7 hectares of additional cherry development were underway after Lindis Crossing Cherries entered a joint venture with Golden Plains Orchard.[35]
  • 1 joint venture was formed by Sun World International and Pairwise to develop a pitless cherry, with Sun World receiving exclusive commercial rights to the genetics.[36]
  • 14 years of cherry-export experience was held by Sandhu Fruit Farm when it partnered with BC Tree Fruit Cooperative.[37]
  • 3 million pounds of Michigan-grown Montmorency cherries were handled annually through Cherry Republic’s distribution and fulfillment center, supported by relationships with 50 growers and five processors.[24]
  • 50 hectares of cherry farms near Faversham, Kent, were acquired by FGA Farming and its partner San Clemente to establish a United Kingdom production platform.[36]
  • 1 pilot partnership was launched by Walmart and Agritask to improve seasonal crop-yield decisions for cherries and blackberries.[38]

07 Statistics

People & Workforce

This section reports seasonal labor scales and workforce stability measures in cherry operations. It includes workforce figures like 600 year-round and 600 seasonal workers at peak season by Gilbert Orchards.

Hiring in the cherry industry

  • 1,000 full-time employees work at FirstFruits outside the peak season across operations that include growing and packing cherries.[39]
  • 50 seasonal employees and 2 year-round employees are housed during cherry harvest on a 200-acre Oregon cherry and pear farm.[40]
  • 50 seasonal workers and 4 year-round employees are employed during a 125-acre cherry harvest on an Oregon farm.[41]
  • 8 of 49 Australian cherry orchards audited in one season had underpaid workers.[42]
  • 600 year-round and 600 seasonal workers are employed at peak season by Gilbert Orchards, which grows and packs cherries alongside other tree fruit.[43]

Employee retention in the cherry industry

  • 12 returning Australian workers received an end-of-season bonus at a New South Wales cherry orchard after the 2024 harvest.[44]
  • 6–8 weeks is the typical duration of the cherry-picking season described by workers at a New South Wales orchard.[44]
  • 10–12 weeks is the typical seasonal employment period for UK orchard-fruit workers, including cherry workers in East Kent.[45]
  • About 50 mostly foreign workers were denied an end-of-season bonus at the same New South Wales cherry orchard.[44]
  • 134 families receive permanent and affordable housing from FirstFruits, a retention and workforce-stability measure for an operation that grows and packs cherries.[39]

Remote Work in the agriculture and food production sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across U.S. agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, about 12% of workers worked remotely during October 2023–September 2024, including hybrid and fully remote work.[46]
  • Across U.S. crop and animal production, 14.4% of workers worked remotely in 2021, compared with 14.7% in 2019 and 15.4% in 2020.[47]
  • Across U.S. agriculture and food employers, 35% offered some type of remote-work arrangement in 2024, according to AgCareers’ industry hiring report.[48]
  • Across U.S. accommodation and food services, 4.8% of workers worked remotely in 2021, up from 1.9% in 2019 and 5.3% in 2020.[47]

Hybrid Work in the agriculture and food production sector (sector benchmark)

  • 84% of Australian agribusiness organisations planned no change to existing flexible or hybrid work arrangements in 2026.[49]
  • Across employers discussed in a food-industry hybrid-work survey, about 90% had adopted some form of hybrid work, although the figure was not limited to agriculture and food production.[50]
  • Among science-of-food professionals surveyed in 2024, 36% reported having no work-at-home days per week.[50]
  • 21% of Australian FMCG and agribusiness professionals reported working fully remotely in 2024.[51]
  • 33% of Australian FMCG and agribusiness professionals reported working in hybrid arrangements in 2024.[51]

Upskilling in the cherry industry

  • 10–12 weeks is the usual seasonal work period in UK orchard fruit, creating a recurring period for cherry-worker job experience and skills development.[45]
  • 2 year-round employees and 4–5 seasonal workers received onboarding training at a Michigan cherry and apple orchard after grant-supported improvements.[52]
  • 1 safety training is required before new orchard employees begin work, with annual retraining thereafter at a Washington State University research farm.[53]
  • 1 university-scholarship and farm-internship program supports children of employees at FirstFruits, whose operations include cherry production.[39]
  • 1 language-class program is offered by FirstFruits as part of employee education and workforce-support initiatives covering its cherry operations.[39]

Employee Engagement in the agriculture and food production sector (sector benchmark)

  • In the agriculture industry, employees averaged 7.68 out of 10 for engagement and an eNPS of +5 in CultureMonkey’s 2026 benchmark.[54]
  • Manufacture, distribution and storage organizations recorded an average employee-engagement score of 72.9% in People Insight’s global benchmark data.[55]
  • Employees in manufacture, distribution and storage organizations scored 59.3% on leadership in People Insight’s global benchmark data.[55]
  • Employees in manufacture, distribution and storage organizations scored 60.9% on enablement in People Insight’s global benchmark data.[55]
  • At Europe Snacks, a multinational food manufacturer, employee engagement reached 79% across its international workforce and 88% in its UK business after a structured listening program.[55]

Change Management in the agriculture and food production sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among food and beverage processors surveyed in 2020, 31% reported changing elements of their supply chain as a structural change.[56]

08 Statistics

Customer & Sales

This section focuses on purchase behavior and export volumes into key markets. It cites 600,000 metric tons forecast for China imports in 2025/26 and lists 20-pound carton export counts from the Pacific Northwest to multiple countries in 2025.

Customer experience in the cherry industry

  • 40% of shoppers in the U.S. Northeast reported purchasing fresh cherries in the previous 12 months in 2025.[57]
  • 2,001 U.S. consumers who purchased cherries participated in a 2024 survey of cherry perceptions, preferences and purchasing behavior.[58]
  • 18% of U.S. cherry purchasers bought organic cherries in 2025.[57]
  • 22% of U.S. households earning less than $25,000 reported purchasing fresh cherries in 2025.[57]
  • 57% of U.S. cherry purchasers bought conventional cherries in 2025.[57]

Customer acquisition in the cherry industry

  • 189,481 20-pound cartons of Pacific Northwest cherries were exported to Australia in 2025.[59]
  • 1,066,370 20-pound cartons of Pacific Northwest cherries were exported to Taiwan in 2025.[59]
  • 616,539 20-pound cartons of Pacific Northwest cherries were exported to Mexico in 2025.[59]
  • 217,360 20-pound cartons of Pacific Northwest cherries were exported to Vietnam in 2025.[59]
  • 614,792 20-pound cartons of Pacific Northwest cherries were exported to China in 2025.[59]

09 Statistics

Marketing & Brand

This section documents campaign reach and measured engagement for cherry brands. It includes 8,647,151 impressions from the 2023 Cherries from Chile Hollywood Bowl contest.

Marketing in the cherry industry

  • 78% of surveyed cherry buyers said health benefits influenced their purchase decision in the Northwest U.S. campaign research.[60]
  • US$5 million was spent on Chilean cherry promotion in China during the 2017/18 season.[36]
  • 16,319 in-store promotional sessions were completed across 28 Chinese supermarket and fruit-store chains during the 2021/22 Chilean cherry campaign.[61]
  • 55% of Australian cherry buyers were infrequent buyers in the 2023/24 season, representing 18% of total volume nationally.[62]
  • 40% of Australian cherry buyers purchased cherries only once per year in 2023/24.[62]

Digital marketing in the cherry industry

  • Five thousand fifty-three entries were recorded in the 2023 Cherries from Chile Hollywood Bowl digital-supported contest.[63]
  • 15% of surveyed Chinese consumers commonly purchased fruit through social-media and short-video apps during the 2024/25 Chilean cherry season.[61]
  • 76,000 click-throughs were generated on the Northwest Cherries website during the 2024 campaign months.[64]
  • Four campaigns used in-store activations, digital banners and out-of-home advertising to market Cherries from Chile in China from 2016 to 2020.[65]
  • 8,647,151 impressions were generated by the 2023 Cherries from Chile Hollywood Bowl contest campaign.[63]

Branding in the cherry industry

  • US$1.4 billion was the export value of Chilean cherries by February 2020 after four years of brand and marketing campaigns.[66]
  • Nearly 6 million additional Chinese consumers said they normally consumed Chilean cherries after the 2021/22 promotional campaign.[61]
  • 85% was the peak awareness level achieved by Cherries from Chile in China during the campaign period ending in 2020.[65]
  • US$111.1 million in incremental export revenue was estimated from the Chilean cherry brand strategy in China through February 2020.[66]
  • 134 million Chinese consumers consumed Chilean cherries in the 2019/20 season after successive brand campaigns.[65]

Social media in the cherry industry

  • 6,366 engagements were generated by Northwest Cherry Growers Instagram giveaways in 2023.[64]
  • 4.8 million users were collectively reached by 16 U.S. influencers receiving Northwest Cherries’ 2024 public-relations boxes.[64]
  • 1,837% was the increase in Northwest Cherry Growers’ Instagram activity in 2023 compared with 2022.[64]
  • 43,300 engagements were generated by the Northwest Cherries Instagram account during the 2024 #MonCherry campaign.[64]
  • 4,562 comments were recorded on Northwest Cherry Growers Instagram giveaways in 2023.[64]

Influencer Marketing in the agriculture and food production sector (sector benchmark)

  • 11.5 million influencer posts covered food and drink globally in 2023, according to Sprout Social’s benchmark dataset.[67]
  • Food and drink influencer content generated 392 billion impressions globally in 2023.[67]
  • Food and drink influencer posts achieved a 1.19% average engagement rate globally in 2023.[67]
  • Food and drink influencer content generated 42.7 billion engagements globally in 2023.[67]
  • Food and drink influencer content produced an estimated $122 billion in earned media value globally in 2023.[67]

10 Statistics

Operations & Execution

This section lists logistics timing, packaging capacity, and measured handling outcomes. It includes a 21-day transit time for Chilean Cherry Express vessels to China before Lunar New Year in 2024/25.

Process optimization in the cherry industry

  • 4 LDPE film thicknesses were tested with cold storage in a study optimizing modified-atmosphere packaging for Meizao sweet cherries.[21]
  • 21 days is the reported transit time for Chilean Cherry Express vessels traveling to China before Lunar New Year in the 2024/25 season.[41]
  • 33% of the Pacific Northwest cherry crop was exported in 2016, with Canada, China and Korea identified as the leading importers.[2]
  • 4 weeks of storage was used to evaluate commercially sorted and packed sweet-cherry cultivars in a postpacking quality study.[68]
  • 6 shelf-life observation points were used over 8 days in a Greek study tracking postharvest changes in commercial sweet cherries.[69]

Operational efficiency in the cherry industry

  • 625,208 metric tons of cherries were exported by Chile in marketing year 2024/25 through May, up 51.1% from the prior year.[70]
  • 20 net tons is the approximate cherry load of a standard export container used for Chilean shipments.[10]
  • 18,282 metric tons of Chilean cherries had reached the United States by December 22 in the cited early-season campaign, 63% above the comparable period.[71]
  • 670,000 metric tons were forecast for Chilean cherry exports in marketing year 2025/26, a projected increase of 7.2%.[70]
  • 4,000 five-kilogram boxes is the approximate capacity of a standard container carrying Chilean cherries.[10]

Quality management in the cherry industry

  • 60 cherries were assigned to each treatment unit in the Greek postharvest quality experiment.[69]
  • 4 LDPE film thicknesses were compared in the modified-atmosphere packaging experiment for Meizao sweet cherries.[21]
  • 5 sweet-cherry cultivars—Chelan, Black Pearl, Bing, Regina and Skeena—were evaluated after commercial sorting and packing.[68]
  • 28.0 × 26.0 cm were the dimensions of the LDPE packaging bags tested for Meizao sweet cherries.[21]
  • 3 quality dimensions—size, color and internal condition—are electronically recorded and scanned by the Unitec Cherry Vision 3.0 system described in a Greek packing operation.[14]

Supply chain in the cherry industry

  • 32,206 metric tons were exported by Uzbekistan in 2024, according to the cited top-ten fresh-cherry exporter table.[72]
  • 323,205 metric tons and 64,641,088 boxes had been shipped to the Far East by week 51 of Chile’s 2023/24 cherry season.[73]
  • 670,000 metric tons of Chilean cherry exports were forecast for marketing year 2025/26.[70]
  • 25,842 metric tons were exported by Azerbaijan in 2024, according to the cited top-ten fresh-cherry exporter table.[72]
  • 84,159 metric tons were exported by the United States in 2024, according to the cited top-ten fresh-cherry exporter table.[72]

Outsourcing / Offshoring in the agriculture and food production sector (sector benchmark)

  • About 12% of firms in the 11-country World Bank Firm-level Adoption of Technology sample outsourced at least one food-processing function, compared with about 18% in apparel.[74]
  • 19% of surveyed Queensland food-processing businesses contracted work out in 2010, while 28% contracted work in and 15% did both.[75]
  • 2% of Canadian food and beverage companies outsourced production entirely to third-party manufacturers in 2020.[76]
  • 49% of U.S. growers surveyed outsourced at least some farm work to third-party service providers in 2022, with spraying services the most commonly outsourced activity.[77]
  • 66% of Queensland food-processing businesses engaged in contract manufacturing to some extent in 2010, including contracting work in or out.[75]

11 Statistics

Finance & Pricing

This section provides crop-year pricing and cost anchors used in agricultural economics. It includes 2024 annual prices like $1.11 per pound for fresh sweet cherries in California.

Pricing strategy in the cherry industry

  • $1.11 per pound was the 2024 annual price for fresh sweet cherries in California, used by USDA crop-revenue insurance programs.[78]
  • $2.25 per pound was the gross price assumption for Coral Champagne sweet cherries in Washington’s 2021 enterprise budget.[25]
  • $1.45 per pound was the 2024 annual price for fresh sweet cherries in Michigan.[78]
  • $1.44 per pound was the 2023 annual price for fresh sweet cherries in Michigan.[78]
  • $0.03 per pound was the 2024 annual price for diverted tart-cherry production receiving Cherry Industry Administrative Board diversion certificates.[78]

Cost reduction in the cherry industry

  • $191 per acre was the estimated cash cost for pruning, tipping and brush disposal in Michigan tart-cherry production in 2022.[79]
  • $401 per acre was the estimated cash harvest cost for Michigan tart cherries in 2022.[79]
  • $385 per acre was the estimated cash crop-protection cost for Michigan tart cherries in 2022.[79]
  • $175 per acre was the estimated cash fertilizer cost for Michigan tart cherries in 2022.[79]
  • $54.13 per acre was the estimated cooling-pad operating cost for Michigan tart cherries in 2022.[79]

Profitability in the cherry industry

  • $31,779 per acre was the estimated full-production total return for early-season mahogany sweet cherries in Washington in 2026.[80]
  • $27,961 per acre was the estimated full-production total cost for Coral Champagne sweet cherries in Washington in 2021.[25]
  • $30,518 per acre was the estimated full-production variable cost for early-season mahogany sweet cherries in Washington in 2026.[80]
  • $1.97 per pound was the estimated 2022 break-even price for Coral Champagne cherries at 18,000 pounds per acre gross production and 80% packout.[25]
  • $38,009 per acre was the estimated full-production total economic cost for early-season mahogany sweet cherries in Washington in 2026.[80]

Financial planning in the cherry industry

  • $18,000 per acre was the assumed value of bare agricultural land, including water rights, in the Washington Coral Champagne budget.[25]
  • $162,000 was the planned land investment for the nine-acre Coral Champagne block in the Washington financial plan.[25]
  • $30,800 was the planned irrigation-system investment for the nine-acre Coral Champagne block in the Washington financial plan.[25]
  • $107 per acre was the assumed annual property tax for agricultural land in the Washington Coral Champagne budget.[25]
  • $28,911 was the planned wind-machine investment in year three of the Washington Coral Champagne financial plan.[25]

12 Statistics

Product & Service

This section covers shelf life, processing utilization, and product formats. It includes U.S. sweet-cherry fresh utilization of 286,440 tons in 2024 and a shelf-life note of 7–14 days in conventional cold storage.

Product development in the cherry industry

  • Approximately 50 tonnes of mainly third-grade cherries were processed by Lebanese cooperatives and SMEs into traditional products, 2024.[81]
  • Dried cherries were identified as a high-demand product in Lebanon when quality and consistency meet buyers’ requirements, 2024.[81]
  • Cherry jam was the main processed cherry product reported by Lebanese processors in a 2019 survey.[81]
  • 22 packing operations handle California cherries produced by approximately 600 farmers, 2016–2026.[82]
  • 50 cherry varieties are harvested commercially in California, 2016–2026, across approximately 40,000 acres of orchards.[82]

Product lifecycle in the cherry industry

  • U.S. sweet-cherry fresh utilization reached 286,440 tons in 2024.[23]
  • Fresh sweet cherries typically have a 7–14-day shelf life in conventional cold storage, global industry research published in 2017.[83]
  • Lebanese fresh cherries have a shelf life of around four days without effective cold-chain management, 2024.[81]
  • Lebanese frozen cherries have a shelf life of around 20 days, according to a 2024 value-chain analysis.[81]
  • U.S. sweet-cherry bearing acreage was 95,600 acres in 2024, up from 86,500 acres in 2022.[23]

Value proposition in the cherry industry

  • U.S. processed sweet-cherry production was valued at $53.819 million in 2024.[23]
  • Organic sweet-cherry exports reached 15.5 million pounds in 2024, representing 8% of U.S. fresh sweet-cherry exports.[84]
  • About 30% of U.S. fresh-market sweet-cherry production was exported in the 2023–2024 seasons.[84]
  • Approximately 60% of California’s cherry crop is sold through domestic channels and 40% is exported, 2016–2026.[82]
  • U.S. fresh sweet-cherry production was valued at $763.609 million in 2024.[23]

13 Statistics

Sustainability & Ethics

This section quantifies energy and emissions as well as worker-related risks. It includes a reported life-cycle greenhouse-gas emission range of 0.26–0.88 kg CO2e/kg for cherries across U.S. consumption studies.

Sustainability in the cherry industry

  • 45,298.53 MJ/ha was the total energy input for cherry production in Konya, Türkiye, during the 2022–2023 season.[21]
  • 87% of cherry workers surveyed in northern Lebanon reported excessive physical effort as an occupational hazard.[81]
  • 84,070.16 MJ/ha was the total energy output of cherry production in Konya, Türkiye, during the 2022–2023 season.[21]
  • 15,680 MJ/ha, or 34.61% of total energy input, came from electricity in cherry production in Konya, Türkiye, during 2022–2023.[21]
  • 4.60% of energy input in cherry cultivation in Gönen, Türkiye, was renewable during the 2021 production period.[85]

Ethics in the cherry industry

  • 33% of cherry workers surveyed in Lebanon’s Bekaa region reported that minors worked on cherry farms.[81]
  • 3% of cherry workers surveyed in Mount Lebanon reported that minors worked on cherry farms.[81]
  • 97% of cherry workers surveyed in northern Lebanon reported having regular working hours.[81]
  • 10% of cherry workers surveyed in Mount Lebanon reported physical effort and fatigue as work-related issues.[81]
  • 20% of cherry workers surveyed in Lebanon’s Bekaa region reported stress as an occupational hazard.[81]

Circular economy in the cherry industry

  • 4.74% of the carbon footprint of processed sweet cherries was attributed to waste from damaged or non-conforming cherries at the collection centre in Italy.[86]
  • 5.57% of the carbon footprint of processed sweet cherries was attributed to electricity consumption at the Italian collection centre.[86]

Carbon footprint in the cherry industry

  • 31.82% of greenhouse-gas emissions from cherry cultivation in Gönen, Türkiye, came from diesel fuel during 2021.[85]
  • 80.83% of greenhouse-gas emissions from white-cherry production in Türkiye came from electricity use.[21]
  • 0.05 kg CO2e/kg was the greenhouse-gas ratio for cherry cultivation in Gönen, Türkiye, during 2021.[85]
  • 0.44 kg CO2e/kg was the reported life-cycle greenhouse-gas emission for cherries in Italy in one reviewed study.[87]
  • 0.26–0.88 kg CO2e/kg was the reported life-cycle greenhouse-gas range for cherries across studies reviewed for U.S. consumption analysis.[87]

15 Statistics

Globalization & Expansion

This section links country-level production and import demand to trade flows. It includes China fresh-cherry production of 800,000 metric tons in marketing year 2023/24 and Hong Kong imports of $1.117B in 2024.

Globalization in the cherry industry

  • 89% of Pacific Northwest fresh sweet-cherry exports by volume came from the region in 2025.[59]
  • 800,000 metric tons was China’s fresh-cherry production in marketing year 2023/24.[95]
  • $1.117 billion of fresh cherries were imported by Hong Kong in 2024, representing 17.4% of global imports.[96]
  • $3.594 billion of fresh cherries were imported by China in 2024, representing 55.9% of global imports.[96]
  • 375,000 metric tons were Chilean fresh-cherry exports in marketing year 2023/24, with nearly half of global trade volume shipped to China.[95]

Cultural adaptation in the cherry industry

  • 5 high-end Chinese retail outlets—Ole, Sam’s Club, Hema, Pagoda and City Super—were identified as premium-fruit channels in 2025.[70]
  • 3 additional Chinese digital platforms—Kuaishou, Pupu and WeChat Video—were identified as emerging cherry-promotion channels in 2025.[70]
  • 2.5-kilogram and 5-kilogram boxes were accepted formats for imported cherries in East China, reflecting gift and household purchasing patterns in 2011.[70]
  • 5 imported cherry varieties—Bing, Kordia, Lapins, Regina and Santina—were identified as popular in China in 2025.[70]
  • 2 Chinese cherry cultivars, Linglongcui and Huojian, were identified as newly developed varieties gaining attention in 2025.[70]

Supplier management in the cherry industry

  • 100 year-round workers were employed by Payson Fruit Growers’ processing operation in Utah in 2026.[97]
  • 3 product forms—dried cherries, cherry concentrate and cherry juice—were produced by Shoreline Fruit from cooperative growers’ crops.[98]
  • 60 workers remained at Payson Fruit Growers’ plant during its severely reduced 2026 harvest, down from the normal seasonal workforce.[97]
  • 6 U.S. states—Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah and California—exported sweet cherries in 2025.[59]
  • 22 packing operations handled California cherries across the state’s growing areas in 2026.[82]

Stakeholder management in the cherry industry

  • 450 growers and processors were represented by the Cherry Marketing Institute, a grower-created organization, in 2022.[24]
  • 23,617,800 20-pound cartons were produced in the Pacific Northwest sweet-cherry crop in 2025.[59]
  • 10,500 jobs were estimated to be directly or indirectly supported by Michigan’s tart-cherry growers and processors in 2022.[24]
  • 95,600 acres were planted to cherries in the United States in 2024.[59]
  • 51,500 acres were planted to cherries in the Pacific Northwest in 2024.[59]

Distribution channels in the cherry industry

  • 110 metric tons of New Zealand cherries were distributed to Singapore in 2024.[99]
  • 867 metric tons of New Zealand cherries were distributed to China in 2024.[99]
  • 2,029 metric tons of New Zealand cherries were distributed to Taiwan in 2024.[99]
  • 211 metric tons of New Zealand cherries were distributed to Thailand in 2024.[99]
  • 88 metric tons of New Zealand cherries were distributed to the Philippines in 2024.[99]

Key questions about the cherry industry

What is the global cherry market size in 2025?
Fortune Business Insights estimates the global cherry market at $73.28B in 2025. The estimate covers sweet and sour cherries across fresh and processed applications.
How fast is the cherry market expected to grow through 2034?
The global cherry market is projected to reach $139.43B by 2034. This implies a 7.41% compound annual growth rate from 2026 to 2034.
Which companies lead the cherry industry?
Stemilt Growers leads Gitnux's 2026 cherry ranking with an Overall score of 9.5, with fresh cherry growing, packing and sales across the United States. Unifrutti is the highest-ranked integrated fruit exporter at 9.2, driven by integrated fruit growing and exports, including cherries.
Which technology shifts are showing up in cherry operations?
Automation and optical analysis are active in orchard and packing workflows, including an optical sorter analyzing fruit at 15 fruit per second and a prototype measuring cherry color and size at 10 samples per minute.
How concentrated is fresh-cherry production and export supply?
USDA forecasts China, Chile, the European Union, Turkey and the United States together at about 66% of global fresh production in 2025/26. Export concentration is higher, with Chile forecast to supply about 71% of global fresh cherry exports in 2025/26.
Reference

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 10). Cherry Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cherry-industry-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Cherry Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 10 Nov 2026, https://gitnux.org/cherry-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Cherry Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cherry-industry-statistics.

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