More U.S. importers are sending cherries from South America for re-packing so the fruit is in tip top condition for consumers.

Oppenheimer chief operating officer Doug Grant told www.freshfruitportal.com this was an increasing trend as imported cherries were often pitted after shipping.

"The U.S. domestic market is used to their own fresh cherries which are in good condition," he explained.

He said cherries that were selected and packed in the U.S. had very few rejections.

"The benefit , even if the re-packing costs are high, is that they are lower than what it costs to have rejects.

"However, that is not a cure all to send bad fruit to the market."

He said that several growers were participating in repacking and that volumes from Chile were expected to reach 12 million cartons compared with 9.5 million last year.

He added the cherries could be packaged in a range of different formats from grape bags to clamshell packs which would appeal to the consumer.

Grant said he was expecting to see a good crop this season and that Argentine and Chilean cherry imports were expected to increase and that the seasons was also extending.

www.freshfruitportal.com