Outlook promising for upcoming cherry, stone fruit import season

As one of the largest cherry importers, Pacific Trellis Fruit is eager for the upcoming import cherry season. “With increased volumes of cherries arriving in the U.S. from Chile and Argentina, we are looking forward to increased opportunities to work with our customers in promoting cherries well into March," said Marcial Hernandez, director of imported fruit. "The first fruit to arrive via vessels should be available the third week of December, just in time for New Year’s ads.”

Pacific Trellis Fruit is sourcing cherries from both Chile and Argentina, providing random weight bags and fixed weight one- or two-pound clam shells under the Dulcinea brand. Fruit can be flown into Miami along with vessel arrivals at East and West Coast ports. 

Much of the fruit is brought to the U.S. in bulk shipments of five-kilo boxes and repacked using a wet-line to provide additional quality control.  Fully staffed QC teams manage both the inbound and outbound product from the shipping point to the customer.  Dan Carapella Jr., director special projects, senior sales executive and category manager for cherries, is also working both the supply and retail side to promote the fruit.

“Pacific Trellis Fruit is recommending ads to run weeks two to eight to take full advantage of promotional supplies as well as promote late Argentine fruit," said Carapella. "There will also be a small Rainier cherry program with fruit arriving towards the end of December.  We are seeing that many customers have already penciled in big ads in both mid-January as well as for Valentine’s Day in February.”

In addition to the cherries, imported stone fruit is also front and center for Pacific Trellis Fruit.  Available are peaches, plums and nectarines from Chile, along with a dynamic plum program from South Africa.  “ We have air shipments into Miami along with vessel arrivals to the East Coast, where our dedicated quality control team manages our extensive repack capabilities.  Our operations team monitors all inbound and outbound shipments allowing Pacific Trellis Fruit the ability to manage supply and optimize quality,” said Tim Davis, stone fruit category manager.  “We have a terrific program of yellow and white flesh nectarines, late-season plum varieties including Applums, Lemon Plums and D’Agen Sugar Plums and availability of a number of high-flavor and high-brix plum varieties like Ruby Sun, Black Pearl, and Green Red (aka Flavor Gator) out of South Africa which will arrive in mid-January and end in April.”