Bursa cherry exporters expect stronger 2026 sales as Europe’s season ends early

Crop recovers after last year’s frost

Turkey’s cherry exporters expect a stronger second half of the 2026 season as higher domestic yields coincide with an earlier end to production in several European countries. Hamdi Taner, chairman of the Uludağ Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association, said abundant, high-quality fruit had been harvested across several categories and that cherry exports were expected to increase.

Last year, an agricultural frost caused serious crop losses in cherries and other fruit across Turkey. Available volumes were limited and prices were high. Taner told Anadolu Agency that conditions have reversed this year: the winter allowed trees to rest, bees were active during pollination, and rainfall gave growers a substantial advantage. He said yields were high across products and described current cherry quality as very good. Fungal diseases were present in parts of Çukurova and the Aegean region, but weather conditions and temperatures were developing favourably at the time of his assessment.

European heat changes the market window

Greater supply has made Turkish fruit more affordable than last year, but it has also created pressure on exporters. Europe produced plentiful cherries and other fruit, particularly in Greece, Spain, Italy, Germany and Austria. Because European countries are Turkey’s main higher-value destinations, exporters found pricing difficult in June, according to Taner. The situation began to change in July after the early part of the cherry season ended.

Extreme heat accelerated ripening in major producing countries including Spain, Italy and France. Taner expects their cherry campaigns to finish 1-2 weeks earlier than normal, opening a more favourable sales window for Turkey during the second half of the season. He also said the low prices paid to Turkish growers need to rise. European supply had kept market prices at moderate levels, limiting the improvement in producer income despite Turkey’s stronger crop.

Russia gains ground as China talks advance

Europe remains Turkey’s most important cherry market. Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands are among the leading destinations, while Italy entered the market in July and substantial shipments were going to Austria and Poland. Russia became more prominent this season, and lower production in Uzbekistan resulted in more fruit being supplied from Turkey.

Exporters are also seeking renewed access to China. Chinese ministry officials visited Turkey in recent weeks, and the two governments have been working on procedures for restarting cherry trade. Turkey conducted trials in 2019-2020 but did not achieve the desired results because of difficulties with quarantine requirements. Taner said those methods have since changed and that new quarantine procedures could allow cherries to reach China in sound condition. He expects exports to resume toward the end of 2026 or, at the latest, in 2027.

The Chinese opportunity has become more relevant because tariffs have restricted US cherry shipments to that market, according to Taner. For Turkish suppliers, however, commercial success will depend on more than formal access. China is a long-distance destination for a highly perishable product, making quarantine compliance, cold-chain reliability and transit planning central to whether exporters can convert the improved harvest into sustainable sales.