California cherry volume was down in 2022, and prices were way up, USDA statistics show.
The USDA reported total cherry shipments from California’s San Joaquin Valley in 2022 totaled 2,256 truckloads, down 59% from 4,442 truckloads in 2021.
The average fob price for California cherries in 2022 was $63.19 per carton, up 33% from $47.16 per carton in 2021 and up 48% from $42.77 per carton in 2020.
In 2022, retail promotions of cherries in May and June peaked with Memorial Day ads on May 27, with the USDA reporting more than 20,000 food stores promoting cherries at an average price of $3.02 per unit.
Fresh Trends insight
Twenty-nine percent of all consumers said they purchased cherries in the past year, according to The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2023 survey. That compares with 36% of consumers indicating cherry purchases in Fresh Trends 2022 and 35% in Fresh Trends 2021.
Income appeared to have a major influence on cherry purchases, according to Fresh Trends 2023, with 42% of consumers earning more than $100,000 a year indicating cherry purchases, compared with 18% of consumers earning less than $25,000 annually.
Although there are some counter-seasonal imports, nearly 90% of fresh cherries in the U.S. are marketed in May, June and July.
Fresh Trends 2023 showed that consumers aged 60 and older were more likely to purchase fresh cherries compared with younger shoppers. Thirty-seven percent of Fresh Trends respondents aged 60 and older said they purchased fresh cherries, compared with 22% for the 18-29 age bracket.
Average fob California cherry prices — 2021
| Date | Price |
|---|---|
| 5/15/21 | $57.65 |
| 5/22/21 | $53.65 |
| 5/29/21 | $49.73 |
| 6/5/21 | $45.90 |
| 6/12/21 | $40.90 |
| 6/19/21 | $31.08 |
Average fob California cherry prices — 2022
| Date | Price |
|---|---|
| 5/7/22 | $66.48 |
| 5/14/22 | $65.48 |
| 5/21/22 | $62.73 |
| 5/28/22 | $62.49 |
| 6/4/22 | $62.49 |
| 6/11/22 | $62.49 |
U.S. retail promotion of cherries — 2022
| Date | Avg. promoted price | Stores with ads |
|---|---|---|
| 4/29/22 | $2.78 | 200 |
| 5/6/22 | $3.37 | 5,924 |
| 5/13/22 | $3.21 | 11,714 |
| 5/20/22 | $3.15 | 16,328 |
| 5/27/22 | $3.02 | 21,022 |
| 6/3/22 | $3.17 | 15,430 |
| 6/10/22 | $3.39 | 6,154 |
| 6/17/22 | $2.61 | 5,460 |
| 6/24/22 | $2.87 | 10,022 |
| 7/1/22 | $2.82 | 26,584 |
| 7/8/22 | $2.85 | 25,254 |
| 7/15/22 | $2.93 | 27,550 |
| 7/22/22 | $3.02 | 21,356 |
