Ukrainian cherry prices drop sharply as harvest exceeds expectations

Wholesale cherry prices in Ukraine have dropped to €0.9–1.3/kg due to an abundant 2026 harvest, significantly undercutting previous years and impacting grower profitability.

In Ukraine, the 2026 cherry season is marked by a harvest that exceeded earlier forecasts. Despite spring concerns over frost and adverse weather, cherry yields turned out to be high across most production regions. As a result, wholesale procurement prices in late June fell to 40–60 UAH/kg (€0.9–1.3/kg), far below last season's prices and now even lower than those for raspberries or blueberries. The cherry harvest is still ongoing, but the main market trend is already established: large supply is pushing prices down. These low prices are especially challenging for growers, as manual harvesting alone can cost up to 20 UAH/kg (€0.5/kg), representing a significant portion of the sale price and squeezing margins further.

Traditionally, cherries are among the most expensive seasonal fruits in Ukraine, but this year, prices are comparable to or even lower than strawberries. The high costs associated with producing premium-quality cherries—such as plant protection, irrigation, pruning, fertilization, cooling, sorting, packaging, and logistics—have not decreased, so the drop in market prices is severely impacting profitability for producers.

In the Netherlands, the cherry harvest is also in full swing, with trees heavily laden with fruit. Some varieties are yielding smaller cherries due to abundant crops, and recent heatwaves have affected sensitive types. However, sales to retailers like Albert Heijn are reported as strong, with growing demand for large cherries (32 mm+). New yellow cherry varieties, already established in Chile and Spain, are being introduced but remain a niche in the Dutch market. The large supply in both Ukraine and the Netherlands increases competition among European suppliers, affecting export opportunities and pricing across the continent.

For Poland and other Central European importers, the sharp drop in Ukrainian wholesale cherry prices creates downward pressure on import prices and intensifies competition with domestic and other regional suppliers. This situation may influence pricing strategies and trade flows in the Polish wholesale market.

Spring weather in Ukraine initially raised concerns about potential crop losses, but by the peak of the season, it was clear that yields were strong and fears of significant damage were unfounded.

Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker