The expensive "ruby", can we achieve cherry freedom this year?

Review expert: Wang Kang, Director of the Science Museum of the National Botanical Garden, Senior Engineer

Cherries are known as the "rubies" among fruits, and are famous for their bright color, sweet taste and rich nutritional value. However, when we see the price of cherries in supermarkets or fruit stores, we are often shocked by their relatively high prices.

Source: Qianku.com

Recently, the price of imported cherries has dropped significantly, and many industry insiders predict that the price of cherries will be more affordable in the future. However, a box of 10 kilograms of cherries in the market currently costs between 600 yuan and 900 yuan. I believe you also have such doubts, what exactly makes the price of cherries so high?

Why are cherries still so expensive after a price reduction ?

First of all, cherries are seasonal fruits that mature mainly in winter every year, and the supply of fruits in my country is relatively scarce during this period. Therefore, the listing of cherries just fills the market gap and meets consumers' demand for fresh fruits. In addition, the supply cycle of cherries is short, generally only a few months. This seasonal supply limits the total amount of cherries on the market, thereby pushing up prices.

Secondly, most cherries on the Chinese market rely on imports, especially from countries such as Chile, the United States and Australia. These countries have excellent conditions for growing cherries and high quality, but this also means high transportation and tariff costs. Imported cherries need to travel a long distance, whether by air or sea, and they need to pay high freight. In addition, cherries have high requirements for freshness and require special storage and transportation conditions, which further increases costs.

Source: Qianku.com

Finally, the cost of growing cherries is relatively high. The planting cycle of cherry trees is long, and it takes 3-5 years from planting to fruiting. During this period, maintenance and management require a lot of manpower and material resources. It also has high requirements for the growth environment and is easily affected by pests and diseases. Therefore, it needs sufficient sunlight and suitable climatic conditions, which limits the planting area and increases the difficulty of planting.

Why don't we grow our own?

Cherries are not something you can plant just because you want to! To figure this out, we need to understand the growth characteristics of cherries. Cherries are temperate fruit trees with very special climate requirements. They need low temperatures in winter to meet their winter dormancy needs, and they need moderate temperatures and sufficient rainfall in spring to ensure the flowering and fruit growth periods. Cherries are picky about climate conditions, making them difficult to grow in many areas of my country.

Source: Qianku.com

However, although China is not suitable for growing cherries, we planted cherries, a relative of cherries. The Chinese have been eating cherries for more than 3,000 years, but local cherries have thin skin and soft flesh, making them difficult to preserve and transport. It was not until the end of the 19th century that large, thick-skinned European sweet cherries, cherries, came across the ocean. As a result, the "cherry VS cherry" war began in China. At present, the price of local cherries in China is relatively more affordable. If you think cherries are expensive, you might as well buy some cherries and try.

Although it tastes good, don’t eat too much!

Many netizens have left messages saying that they will have "diarrhea" or "mouth ulcers" or "stomach discomfort" after eating too many cherries. This is because cherries are very sweet and naturally contain a lot of sugar. If you eat too many cherries, you will inevitably consume too much sugar, which will cause discomfort in the mouth and throat. People with fructose intolerance may also experience digestive system discomfort such as diarrhea. Moreover, because cherries are eaten in winter, the temperature is low and the temperature of cherries is also very cold. People with sensitive gastrointestinal tracts may also have diarrhea if they eat cooler fruits such as cherries in winter.

Therefore, I would like to remind everyone that everything should be done in moderation. Cherries are delicious, but don’t eat too many!