Why Are Cherries So Expensive?

Cherries are delicious, easy to eat, worthwhile, delicious (did I already mention that?!), and expensive. No matter the year or the market and environmental conditions, cherries are expensive. Why is that? Why are cherries so expensive?

Cherries are a Short-Season Crop

Cherries are a short-season crop. Sweet cherries are primarily grown in California, Oregon and Washington. Among the different production areas, the cherry season runs for 3-4 months during the summer months. This allows for there to be a great demand, as consumers know cherries will not be around for long. With the high demand, along with all of the growing and production costs that go into bringing the cherries to market, they are able to charge a high price for cherries because people will still buy them.

First to Market Cherries

California grown cherries make it to the market first. This gives them an early advantage over the Pacific Northwest growers, whose cherries arrive later in the season. California cherry harvest starts around the end of April or beginning of May each year, and then the cherries slowly start rolling into the stores. This first go to market can lead to really high mark ups, and even resulted in me having sticker shock in 2018 seeing conventional (non-organic) cherries that were selling for $9.99 per pound at a local Whole Foods (I haven’t seen the prices that high since). They could charge this much because no other stores were carrying cherries and they have a consumer base that is used to paying more to shop there.  

Even with the high prices, there is a marketing trick that is sometimes used to help with the adjustment period. According to an interview in The Packer, the most common packaging is a 2 pound bag. However, at the start of the season, some packers start out selling 1.33 pound bags to help ease consumers into the high price of cherries.

Late Rains Affecting Cherry Prices

The cherry crop alternates in volume each year because cherry trees do not produce heavy yields every year. In addition to predicted fluctuations, there can also be temperature fluctuations. This varies each year, but some examples include: the weather warming earlier than expected, frosts and rains late in the season that affect fruit development and caused freeze damage. When rains come during cherry bloom, they affect pollination and fruit set.

I have a post from the 2019 growing season (you can read it HERE), showing how the unexpected rainy conditions during the start of the season resulted in great damage to the entire California cherry crop that season. 

The Best Deals I Find on Cherries

I am one of those people that go to multiple grocery stores looking for the best quality produce and the best prices.

The two main issues I normally encounter with cherry quality are:

1. Loss of firmness – They are too old, which you can tell by them losing their firmness.
2. Grey Mold – If one cherry in the bag has Grey Mold (Botrytis cinerea), it will spread. By the time you get home and realize that there is an affected cherry, you will also notice that the Grey mold has spread to multiple cherries throughout the bag.

Historically, I have had the best bet with cherries at Costco. I experience less quality issues and almost always am paying a lower price than compared to traditional grocery stores.

Another place you could visit are local produce markets or produce stands. Here, you will find more “imperfect” cherries, such as double cherries, but they will be cheaper than a traditional grocery store and and as long as you inspect them to make sure they are firm and without pathogen growth, you will be good to go!

Regardless of where you buy your cherries, I suggest going and getting some because the short-season will be over before you know it!

Some other posts you might be interested in reading:

• What Causes Double Cherries?
• Cherry Harvest & Packing
• What Causes Mealiness in Peaches?