Fruit Growers Tasmania, with the support of the Tasmanian government, will promote the Australian state’s fruit in top export market
The start of the 2026 Tasmanian cherry export season will be marked with a promotional event in Hong Kong on 7 January, hosted by industry body Fruit Growers Tasmania.
“We are excited to host this inaugural seasonal launch event in Hong Kong; a very important and long standing market for Tasmanian cherries”, said Peter Cornish, CEO of Fruit Growers Tasmania.
Guests will gather to hear about the 2025/26 season, future production growth and will have an opportunity to taste the first fresh Tasmanian cherries of the season.
“We are fortunate to be supported by the Tasmanian government to promote our fruit in export markets and have chosen Hong Kong as it always in the top three export markets that we supply with cherries. Last season Hong Kong received 22 per cent of the total export volume from Tasmania,” Cornish said.
“There are difficult dynamics at play in competitive Asian markets with large volumes of imported fruit entering the market in preparation for the festive season. We understand that these shipped volumes continue to lower price expectations. However, we believe our fruit is markedly different.”
Tasmania is a small producer focused on premium-quality fruit. Tasmanian cherries tend to be dark in colour, large and sweet and arrive in Asia, having travelled by air, within 72 hours of picking.
“Our cherries are handpicked, cooled to 1-2ºC, then carefully packed into boxes to seal in the freshness. There is generally a range of different sized fruits, including plenty that are 34mm and larger. We hope that customers recognise and appreciate the quality we offer,” said Cornish.
Due to cooler conditions in spring and early summer in Australia’s most southern, island state, the first Tasmanian cherries for the export market are running a little behind the normal schedule.
“This should work in our favour, as the Lunar New Year 2026 is a little later too!” remarked Peter. “Mother nature decides how the seasons fall and our growers always work with that,” said Cornish.
“Tasmanian growers wish to convey their appreciation for the longstanding trade relationships that they have in Hong Kong and other parts of Asia and wish everyone a safe and prosperous Lunar New Year.
“As 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse, we feel it signifies the passion and determination of our growers and the importance of our trade relationships in a challenging trade environment.”
