Ukraine’s cherry market is not expected to face supply shortages during the 2026 season, while retail prices during the peak harvest period may stabilize at UAH 100–150 per kilogram. According to experts from the Institute of Horticulture of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences, despite challenging spring weather conditions, the country’s main production regions managed to avoid critical crop losses.
Following the occupation of traditional cherry-growing areas in Crimea and parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts have become Ukraine’s leading production centers. Farmers report that spring frosts caused only limited damage in these regions, allowing domestic producers to ensure sufficient market supply this year.
At the moment, the market is still dominated by expensive imported cherries from Spain and Greece, keeping early-season prices exceptionally high. In some cities, imported cherries were sold at prices ranging from UAH 1,000 to UAH 2,500 per kilogram. However, as medium-early and mid-season Ukrainian varieties enter the market in larger volumes, prices are expected to decline steadily.
Experts emphasize that cherries remain a highly perishable product, forcing retailers to adapt pricing to actual consumer purchasing power. This factor is expected to prevent excessive price growth even if weather-related risks persist. Analysts believe that during the peak harvest period Ukrainian producers will fully satisfy domestic demand, while expensive imported cherries will gradually lose their competitive advantage.