FAQs
The BC Cherry Association is the umbrella organization representing various grower, packers, shippers, brokers, scientists, and industry salespeople and sponsors.
We strive to grow a high-quality product for various markets all over the world. Currently, there is a great demand for Canadian Cherries. This Q&A is intended to help answer your questions regarding our industry and market opportunities.
**Please note that the BCCA is not a marketing agency or a broker. This website is a vessel for disseminating general information to interested parties and connecting you with potential producers.
Q: Where can I buy Canadian Cherries?
The first place to look is at our Sales Directory. Here you will find growers selling cherries for personal use, domestic large-volume sales and international export, as well as Brokers and Sales Agents.
Q: How much do cherries cost per kilogram?
The market dictates the price of cherries. The costs required to grow, pick (by hand) and pack make cherries a high value crop. Canadian growers harvest much of the crop in August and possibly into early September, giving our growers the latest cherries in the northern hemisphere.
Q: Do you export cherries?
The BCCA is not a cherry producer. However, the majority of the packing houses in BC are set up to export cherries, and they are members of the BCCA. We have market access to many countries around the world.
Q: What Canadian port do the cherries leave from?
If cherries are to be sent by air, they go in refrigerated trucks to Vancouver (YVR) or Edmonton International Airport. By ship, cherries are packed into refrigerated shipping containers and sent via truck or train to the east or west, depending on their final destination. Asian shipments will go via Vancouver (across the Pacific), while European orders go via Montreal (St. Lawrence Seaway and across the Atlantic).
Q: What are the requirements for exporting cherries to China?
Government inspections including: AQSIQ Certificate, Phytosanitary Certificate, and audited Grower/Packinghouses are all required for exports. Not all growers are certified for export to China. Please see our page on Exporting Cherries for more information.
Q: What ports in China can receive cherries?
The main port has traditionally been Guangzhou. Cherries are also now entering through Beijing and Shanghai. Ideally, cherries are transported on direct flights or by ocean container to reduce handling and temperature fluctuations.
Q: How many containers of fruit are available for export to China?
Over 50 sea containers of were exported in 2014, with at least that much volume again being sent by air. With rapidly increasing Canadian cherry acreage 2018 saw approximately triple this volume of exports to the People’s Republic of China. Presently foreign demand exceeds Canadian supply, though young plantings coming on stream will help correct that imbalance in the near future.
Q: Are cherries going to become more expensive as exports increase?
We hope not. Ideally, Canadians will continue to enjoy good quality BC Cherries. If consumers demand BC Cherries over USA Cherries, we will be able to make gains in Canadian supermarket chains, and keep domestic prices affordable.
Q: Where can I do U-Pick?
In the Okanagan and Creston Valley it is relatively easy to find local cherries during harvest. Our Sales Directory offers orchards with U-Pick and Farm Markets the opportunity to have their location listed.
Q: Where do you grow cherries?
95% of the cherries grown in Canada are grown in British Columbia (BC). There are three regions blessed with ideal growing conditions: The Okanagan Valley, the Similkameen Valley, and the Creston Valley.
Q: When is your harvest season?
Harvest begins in the South Okanagan in early June. As the summer goes on, cherries are harvested by variety, location, and altitude, finishing up at the beginning of September in the North Okanagan and Creston Valley. Every year the season varies a little bit, based on the weather.
Q: How many acres of cherries are grown in BC?
Our latest survey shows there are approximately 3500 acres of cherries planted. This number is very outdated, however, and the BCCA is working with the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Foods to develop some more recent statistics.
Q: What kind of cherries are grown by BCCA members?
Many different kinds! The most commonly available varieties include: Satin™, Cristalina™, Skeena, Lapins, Sweetheart™, Staccato ®, Sentennial™ and Sovereign™. These varieties were all bred at Summerland’s Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research and Development Center. More acres of Regina and Kordia are also being planted and will be in production soon. Individual growers also have many, many other varieties that offer desirable characteristics and market opportunities.
Q: How are cherries packed?
Cherries are picked by hand and brought to a designated packing facility on the same day where they are cooled, washed, and packed for sales. Many new, high-tech packing lines have been installed in the past couple of years. All the packing facilities are either family owned or co-operatively owned. Most facilities pack the majority of fruit into 5kg and 9kg boxes. Domestic fruit is most often packed into 8x1kg bagged boxes. A few facilities have specialized equipment and labour to do smaller packs for store shelves (ie clamshells).