AM FRESH Group and Special New Fruit Licensing announced a definitive agreement under which AM FRESH is acquiring International Fruit Genetics and merging it with SNFL, creating a combined company that significantly advances their abilities to further develop breeding capacities and add to their innovative portfolio to address unprecedented industry demand.

Consumers can enjoy sweet, juicy cherries through February, thanks to Chile. Chilean cherry exports to the U.S. have doubled this season, and the Chilean Cherry Committee will continue to run both consumer and retail programs through February to drive awareness and sales.

Honeybear Brands, a leading grower and marketer of premium apples, pears and cherries, continues to grow its direct winter cherry program for retail partners. The company’s dual-hemisphere cherry program provides the highest quality fruit available during winter, direct from Chile, and summer months, domestically from Washington and California. This program ensures retail partners don’t miss premium sales opportunities.

Chilean cherries and blueberries are both looking very strong at the end of 2021, according to Karen Brux, managing director of the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association.

In fact, the Chilean Blueberry Committee projects global export volumes of 117,000 tons, similar to the total exported the previous season.

“The season has just started, with 196,000 boxes (563 tons) shipped season to date to the U.S.,” Brux said. “We’ll be promoting from December through February.”

Cherries aren’t just for summer. Reports suggest 2021-22 Chile cherry exports to the United States will see substantial growth, and for the first time will run more than 12 weeks, through February.

Andreas Economou of Tastyfrutti said 5-6 million boxes (25,000-30,000 tons) will be shipped to the U.S. market during the 2021-22 season.

Cherry pricing is anticipated to start out strong and stay steady until around Thanksgiving.

Fall has arrived and that means it’s time to get ready for Chilean cherries.  Chile projects that cherry exports to the U.S. will see substantial growth in 2021-22, and for the first time the season will run more than 12 weeks, from November through February. The Chilean Cherry Committee estimates that nearly 13,000 tons will be shipped to the U.S. market during the 2021-22 season.