Photo contributed by BCTF
Okanagan Cherries
There’s more good news for cherry growers, who now have access to the lucrative South Korea market.
The growth of Canada’s cherry industry has been a major success story in the tree fruit sector. Now, the Minister of Agriculture and Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau, says Canada has gained access to the South Korea market for BC growers.
Canada has been working collaboratively with South Korea to gain access for fresh cherries since 2015. Increased exports into South Korea has been part of British Columbia’s long-term strategy to grow international markets for cherries, while securing the best price.
British Columbia’s cherry industry produces 95% of Canada’s sweet cherries and has an opportunity to grow even more thanks in part to the premium new cherry varieties bred at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Research Centre in Summerland, British Columbia.
Sweet cherries have now become Canada’s second largest exported fruit crop behind blueberries. As the region in North America with the latest-growing cherries, British Columbia exporters have a competitive advantage when the cherries are ready to go to market in August and September.
“With new access to the South Korean market, growers in British Columbia can continue to showcase their cherries around the world and expand trading relationships,” said Bibeau.
