Well the cherries have come to an end and this year although the over all crop was down in size Canada continued to have successful promoting through the entire season. In Eastern Canada NWC saw retailers promote everything from organic to conventional and even a demo with a retailer on Rainiers. over all the season was a success as retailers had nothing but good comments on quality and sizing of the fruit.

In Eastern Canada Cherries are still being promoted throughout all retailers and Terminal Market. Retailers are promoting the Dark sweets from $2.49lb to $2.79lb. One retailer had them priced at $3.49 lb but they are a size 9 and the quality was outstanding. two of the larger retailers still a small display of Rainier on their shelves with the price at 6.99 each.

Western Canada is seeing finally received Washington Cherries this past week. The quality and taste is outstanding with pricing currently running $3.99 lb CAD. All retailers are carrying Washington Cherries and for this week running the same pricing. All retailers are carrying size 10 1/2 or larger and the color of the fruit is very dark with no light red fruit.

There are all sorts of soft fruit in the market place in Canada.  First off, the cherries from California are very small, row 11 at least, and at every retailer I saw, the fruit was bright red.  Taste was good, not at all sour, and the price was $3.99 lb CAD.  Display space given to them was only 1 box wide.

Apricots are again in every retailer across Canada but very small and tasteless. Loblaws had the worst of all retailers with what one would describe as a bitter pit throughout the entire display.  Price was a low end of $2.99 lb to $4.99 lb CAD.

Western Canada is seeing quite a few promotions being done on BC late variety cherries like Lapins and Skeenas.  Fruit looks fantastic and eats very well.  Sizing is 10 row and larger in all retailers and side road vendors.  Prices range from $1.99 lb to $3.99 lb CAD, not on sale.  On sale promotions range from $1.79 lb to $2.29 lb CAD.  Retailers did the same as in previous years and promoted both BC and Washington at the same time in their flyers.

Eastern Canada is seeing quite a few promotions on both organic and conventional cherries. Sweet cherries are being promoted by all retailers with prices ranging from $1.49lb to $1.99lb CAD. Displays on these are, in most cases, at least 12 feet wide. Rainiers are being promoted by retailers with retail prices ranging from $3.99 each to $4.99 each CAD.

Quality on both is, as one retailer said, fantastic this season. They are selling through stock without any issues and retailers and wholesalers are very happy. I have not heard of any issues in Canada about quality or problems.