Landing of first shipment marks the official start of the Chilean cherry season in China

The first shipment of Chilean cherries of the 2026/27 season has arrived in China, marking the official start of the latest campaign of the Andean country’s biggest ag-export. 

According to coverage by Produce Report, the fruit landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on October 17 and 18 in three shipments imported by local firms Haojiu Industrial Development and Ivcsun Supply Chain Management.

Great expectations for Chilean cherries

The first two batches featured Cherry Cupid and Royal Tioga varieties and totaled over 1,000 2.5-kilo cartons. Importer Haojiu said condition and quality looked good, with “clear skins and bright colors,” and calibers ranging from J to 4J. The Cherry Cupid shipment was grown in Chile's Coquimbo region and exported by packer Grupo Cochrane. 

Additionally, the outlet reported that the shipments were sent directly to the Shanghai Huizhan Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market, where nearly 100 buyers gathered late into the night to get a first look at the crop.

A Haojiu executive told Produce Report the fruit was destined for Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Beijing, and would be sold through retail chains and sellers such as Xianfeng and Douyin, with more shipments to come. 

Arrival of Chilean cherries in the Chinese market for the 2025/26 season. | Image courtesy of Qima | Archive

Meanwhile, on October 18, a second shipment made up of 222 2.5-kilo and 5-kilo cartons of AG2 cherries landed in Shanghai. The proprietary cultivar was produced by Chilean firm Global Talsa AG in the Colchagua Valley. 

According to the website, the batch Ivcsun imported mostly featured 2J and 3J cherries, which will be sold on platforms like Freshippo, Dingdong, Xiaoxiang Supermarket, Douyin, and JD.com. The latter began pre-selling the Chilean cherries last week. 

Some rain on the Chilean cherry parade

Meanwhile, the Chilean cherry industry is grappling with the effects of abnormal weather across the country's growing regions.

Unseasonal rain and hail storms have hit orchards growing early varieties, causing splitting and threatening root damage as saturated soil stresses the trees. Experts are still assessing the damage and how this might impact yet another bumper crop projected for the 2026/27 season.

Meanwhile, the country is preparing for a new storm in the central region, promising over a week of rain along with winds and low temperatures. 

*All images are referential unless stated otherwise.

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