Record Price Increase for Cherries and Black Currants in Ukraine in 2025
In 2025, Ukrainian gardeners who managed to preserve their harvest are reaping record profits due to high prices for cherries and black currants intended for freezing. The prices of these berries have reached the highest levels ever recorded.
This is reported by AgroReview
Impact of Weather Anomalies on the Berry Market
The increase in berry market prices is attributed to spring frosts that affected not only Ukraine but also much of Eastern and Central Europe, as well as Turkey. Due to these weather catastrophes, the supply of berries has significantly decreased, leading to a substantial jump in purchase prices.
At the beginning of July, the purchase price for cherries ranges from 60 to 85 UAH per kilogram (1.2–1.7 euros/kg), and prices are expected to continue rising. This season, black currants have even surpassed the price of cherries, being purchased at 70–90 UAH per kilogram (1.4–1.8 euros/kg), which is advantageous for producers specializing in freezing the product.
Challenges for Processors and the Search for Alternatives
In addition to cherries and currants, the price of raspberries is also rising, which processors are actively purchasing. However, not all farms have been able to take advantage of the record prices: due to the frosts, some gardeners, especially cherry orchard owners, lost their entire harvest. Farmers who invested in frost protection systems have the opportunity to offset these costs with this year’s income.
“Such raw material prices create difficulties for processing enterprises. The cost of frozen cherries, according to analysts, will reach at least 3.2 euros per kilogram, while currants will be approximately 3.5 euros per kilogram.”
In the second half of the season, analysts predict a possible decrease in prices for finished products if European producers switch to cheaper ingredients. In this case, it will be difficult for Ukrainian enterprises to sell their products at a profitable price.
In the context of high raw material prices, processors are already considering alternative options. In particular, they are looking at cheaper frozen strawberries from Egypt, exotic fruits from Vietnam, or products from Central Asia, where this year there has been a better harvest of stone fruits compared to Europe.