Spring frosts destroyed more than 50% of the cherry harvest: prices will soar in 2025
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Spring frosts in April 2025 dealt a serious blow to the cherry harvest in Eastern Europe and Turkey, according to the industry analytical project EastFruit.

According to the project's analysts, yields in many countries will decrease by 50% or more, which will inevitably lead to an increase in prices.

Andriy Yarmak, an economist at the FAO Investment Department, noted that another problem that will negatively affect the harvest of sweet cherries is the reduction in the area under these crops in the European Union countries.

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"Since the risks of growing cherries are constantly increasing, due to frequent crop losses from frost, old plantations are gradually being uprooted and not replaced with new ones," Yarmak emphasized.

EastFruit analysts note that at the end of April 2025, Ukraine was hit by a third wave of spring frosts, which led to significant losses in horticulture.

According to preliminary estimates, about 45-55% of the cherry harvest was lost, primarily in the southern regions of the country, where production is concentrated. In the central regions, losses were even higher, but the cherry areas there are smaller.

As for cherries, losses are estimated at 35-50%, mainly in the northern regions of the country.

Due to the loss of traditional cherry-growing regions under occupation, Ukraine has been mostly importing this fruit in recent years. So this year's prices will be even higher than usual.

Frosts also negatively affected crops in other countries:

  • Poland: losses of sweet cherries – up to 80% in some regions, average loss level – 50–55%;
  • Turkey: spring frosts destroyed up to 70% of the harvest, so export prices for cherries could increase by 75%;
  • Hungary: Up to 90% of fruit farms were affected by frost, and the cherry harvest fell by 80–90%;
  • Romania: night frosts in April led to a 70-80% reduction in the cherry and sweet cherry harvest;
  • Moldova: according to preliminary estimates, 30-40% of the harvest was lost, although in some regions it was up to 100%.

Uzbekistan can partially compensate for the shortage of cherries, but this year, large supplies from this country to Ukraine are not expected due to:

  • complicated logistics due to the war in Ukraine;
  • high prices in Russia, where it is more profitable to sell;
  • mismatch of ripening season.

Thus, the project's analysts emphasize that cherries will become scarce and expensive in 2025.