WHERE WILL SWEET CHERRIES BE GROWN?

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) production is dictated by climate, land base, varieties, costs of production (including labor) and adoption of technology (including marketing infrastructure). China, with low labor costs and a large land base, now produces about 50% of the world’s pears and almost 40% of world apples.
Will sweet cherry production in China increase correspondingly? To date, Chinese production has been minimal and local.
However, production has increased four-fold since 1996 to 15,000 t in 2004. While western European countries with higher labor costs and fewer tendencies to change varieties have declined in production, there are increases in Turkey, Spain, South America and the United States.
Former USSR countries may become major cherry producers.
South Africa has a budding industry with ideal growing conditions and low labor costs.
In Turkey, with ideal growing conditions, orchard area is increasing dramatically.
Turkey’s low production per ha may increase rapidly with technology.
Planting activity is highest in warmer areas such as Spain, California, Chile, Argentina and Australia.
Marketing advantage relates to larger and firmer cherries and handling technology.
Reasons for the changing profile of world production are examined.

V International Cherry Symposium

G. Ing

Prunus avium, China, niche, production zones, pests, fruit-cracking

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2008.795.68