Japan's MY 2021/22 cherry production fell by 24 percent from MY 2020/2021 due to frost damage to cherry flowers in Yamagata. Post estimates Japan’s cherry production in MY 2022/23 began to recover and increased by 18 percent from the MY 2021/22 level.
The higher than average temperatures in late June and July, the time of maturation and harvest for the Benishuho variety, complicated harvesting as most cherries ripened at the same time. As cherries are picked manually, farmers struggled to keep up and had to leave some fruits on the trees. As a result of the 2022 weather conditions, Post estimates Yamagata Prefecture's cherry production at 13,000 metric tons (MT) or a 42 percent increase over the poor MY 2021/22 level, though still short of the 10-year average of 13,500 MT. With Yamagata’s recovered production, Japan’s total cherry production will be 15,500 MT in MY 2022/23, up 18 percent compared to MY 2021/22.
Consumption
Over 90 percent of domestic cherries are consumed fresh, with the remainder going to processing. According to Yamagata Prefecture officials, approximately 50 percent of cherries are sold directly for gifting. Wholesale markets are the second most common distribution channel for cherries, accounting for about 30 percent of annual production.
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Source: fas.usda.gov