TRADE MISSION NOTES:

Promote Washington cherries abroad

Northwest cherries export data

  • As of 2009, export sales represent 24.7% of the total fresh, sweet NW cherry crop value.

  • In 2009 global markets of NW cherries exports included Canada (39%), Australia (5%), the Far East (43.6%, comprised of Hong Kong, 16.8%, Taiwan, 14.4%, Japan, 5.4%, Korea, 4.7%, and other 2.4%), Latin America (2.7%), Europe excluding U.K., (5.9%), United Kingdom (5.2%), and other (.9%).

  • Exports of NW cherries continue to grow. Hong Kong, China and Australia were notable growth areas in 2009, in case volume.

  • 2009 demonstrated record-breaking sales volume in which export sales generated a local impact of $302 million.

Image of fruit. B.J. Thurlby, President, Washington State Fruit Commission (WSFC)

08/20/10

The Northwest Cherry Growers have seen their annual production increase by 50% over the past five years. This dramatic growth has driven the sweet cherry growers of Washington state to focus their market development efforts to markets outside of the United States. Export market growth will be the major contributor to sustained economic success for the state’s growers and their crop which has a value of over $400,000,000.

Export trade missions sponsored by the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Office of the Governor have proven to be an excellent medium for accessing new markets and potential trading partners for the Washington State sweet cherry producers. As an example, representatives of the WSFC joined Governor Gregiore on a mission to China in 2005. At the time, growers did not ship cherries directly to China. Within the next year, several Chinese importer contacts that were made on the 2005 mission took the risk of importing cherries directly to Shanghai. Supported with strong promotional programs by the WSFC, the importers had success in 2006 by importing 70,000 boxes of sweet cherries. Today, China has grown to a 500,000 (direct shipment) box market with a plant value of over $14,000,000.

The WSFC will be sending two representatives on the Vietnam portion of the Governor’s trade mission. The importance of these missions have a proven track record and have had a direct correlation on the success of Washington State’s cherry growers.