Giddings-Cerasus, a Chilean export company, has unloaded the last container of the 2022/23 season's Final late cherries, which are widely praised by Chinese consumers, in China.

According to Chile's PortalFruticola website, Gonzalo Matamala, general manager for China and Asia of Galaga, said: "The Final is a variety that we acquired many years ago from the German geneticist Peter Stoppel and is grown mainly in southern Chile, specifically in Osorno. This is a late maturing variety, which can extend the cherry export season to China and has been used for commercial production."

As for the difference between the Final and other varieties of cherries, Matamara said that compared with Regina, the Final is picked 10 days late, the flesh is firm, the taste is sweet, the preservation time is long, and the sales are good both online and offline. In addition, the Final can cost as much as 950 yuan per case in China's wholesale market and more than 1,000 yuan per case at retailers.

Matamara said the growing Chilean cherry production should focus on expanding the fruit season in the future. In addition to Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival, Valentine's Day, Christmas, Singles Day and even Tomb-sweeping Day are the main challenges facing the Chilean cherry industry in the Asian market.

Mr Matamara added: "Retailers and wholesalers in Asia are contacting us asking for more cherries, and you can say that the cachet and recognition we have gained in the Chinese market has spread to other countries in the Asia-Pacific region."