Japan braces for weaker stone fruit season in 2025/26

Japan is heading into the 2025/26 season with weaker harvests of cherries, peaches, and nectarines, as farmers struggle with extreme weather, shrinking farmland, and an ageing workforce, according to a recent report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Tokyo.

Cherry output is forecast at 12,500 tonnes, up slightly from last year’s poor crop but still 25% below the average. Yamagata Prefecture, which produces over three-quarters of Japan’s cherries, saw reduced yields after unusually high temperatures disrupted pollination. With limited local supply, demand for imported U.S. cherries is expected to remain firm, although total imports may fall by around 10% to 4,300 tonnes as consumers react to higher prices and a weak yen.

Peach and nectarine production is projected at 101,000 tonnes, down nearly 9% year-on-year. Fewer exports are also expected, with volumes to Hong Kong and Taiwan likely dropping by more than 20%. Domestic consumption continues to slide, particularly among younger consumers, who are increasingly deterred by high fruit prices.

Farmers face mounting costs, labour shortages, and the need for protective structures to shield crops from heavy rain. Meanwhile, U.S. nectarines continue to hold a 100% share of the Japanese market due to import restrictions on fresh peaches.

source: fas.usda.gov, frutasdechile.cl

photo: freshdirect.com