Cherry sales were strong leading up to New Year's Day, with price fluctuations remaining reasonable. The arrival of several cherry shipments in late December increased the overall supply, causing prices to drop compared to mid-December. Sales peaked just before New Year's Day. Following the influx of fruits, the prices of high-quality cherries rebounded slightly. However, on New Year's Day itself, most buyers had sufficient inventory, and fewer people visited the market for purchases, resulting in the lowest market prices in recent days. By January 2, foot traffic in the market had gradually increased, leading to a slight market improvement. With the New Year's Day sales peak over, post-holiday prices are approximately 10%-15% lower. For example, 2J-grade Santina cherries in a 5kg package are priced at around ¥230 per box, while 3J two-in-one packages range from ¥320 to ¥330 per box, with adjustments depending on fruit quality and daily market conditions. Based on past trends, traders predict that these lower prices may persist for 3-4 days after the holiday but expect them to stabilize without significant further reductions.
Left: Chilean cherries; Right: Peruvian green grapes
Traders report that the quality of cherries arriving by sea has been stable, with improvements in hardness, taste, and fruit surface compared to earlier arrivals. Regarding size preferences, some traders note that smaller fruits are preferred in certain channels, likely due to their relatively lower prices. Reflecting on New Year's Day sales, some traders commented that while sales were satisfactory and price fluctuations were less extreme than last year, overall performance fell short of previous years. Contributing factors include the abundant supply of cherries this season and the limited demand due to a single-day holiday.
New Zealand cherries have also entered the market. Current prices are comparable to those of previous years, but sales are slower due to the high volume and lower prices of Chilean cherries.
Left: Peruvian avocados; Right: New Zealand cherries
Peruvian grapes began arriving last month, with current offerings including green grapes, Muscat grapes, and other varieties. Traders noted that green grapes reached the market later this year, arriving in mid-to-late December rather than early November as in previous years. Prices remain steady, with large boxes of J-grade green grapes selling for around ¥320 per box. The quality is reportedly good, with minimal losses. For Muscat grapes, current arrivals are limited, and the taste remains sour. As this variety is relatively niche, sales have been slow.
Left: Chilean nectarines; Right: American apples
Peruvian avocados have also started arriving, priced at approximately ¥100 per box, while supplies of Chilean avocados are declining. Traders observed that Peruvian avocados were unavailable at this time last year and only arrived in February. Now, they are available year-round, with current arrivals consistent in size with previous seasons.