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Specialty crops
Avocados and cherries: turning specialty crop opportunities into export-ready supply
Sources reviewed: · SeedMatch Group editorial team
Short answer
Demand is real but supply must be export-ready. The OECD-FAO Outlook expects avocado to become the most traded major tropical fruit by 2035. For cherries, a South Africa–China protocol was signed in September 2026, but shipment clearance was still pending on 21 October 2026. Readiness means variety, maturity, cold chain and market-access documents.
What the market data says
Avocado: according to the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2026-2035, global avocado exports expanded by an estimated 13% in 2025, to around 3.3 million tonnes. The Outlook states that “avocado is on track to become the most traded major tropical fruit in quantity, overtaking pineapples and reaching 4.3 Mt of exports by 2035”, and projects production growing 2.6% a year to 16 Mt. These are projections, not guaranteed demand.
Cherries: China is the largest cherry import market. For 2025, South Africa's government cites about 586,900 tonnes worth about US$3.3 billion, while GACC data reported by Produce Report give about 586,700 tonnes and US$3.432 billion. Both describe recorded 2025 trade; the difference reflects rounding and data scope.
Sources: [1] OECD and FAO, [2] Department of Agriculture, South Africa (gov.za), [5] Produce Report
South Africa–China cherries: status as of 21 October 2026
Market access is a country-level permission. It does not mean any particular grower, packhouse or exporter is registered or approved, and it is not a confirmation of shipment dates.
| Item | Status | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Market-access protocol | Signed on 8 September 2026 in Beijing | South African government, 8 Sep 2026 |
| China's import requirements | GACC Announcement No. 140 of 2026, dated 21 September 2026 | GACC, 21 Sep 2026 |
| Final clearance for shipments | Still pending: China had not yet confirmed that South Africa met the requirements | Reuters via Engineering News, 21 Oct 2026 |
| First commercial shipments | Not begun as of that date; no start date confirmed | Same report |
Sources: [2] Department of Agriculture, South Africa (gov.za), [3] General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), [4] Business News South Africa
Seasonal supply and variety
Both crops are sold into windows. Southern-hemisphere cherries supply northern markets in their off-season; South African cherries come to market roughly three weeks earlier than Chile's, according to Produce Report. Avocado supply rotates between origins through the year, so a new programme competes with established origins in its window.
Variety choice is long-term. Orchards commit a grower to varieties for many years, and some cherry varieties are protected and licensed in specific regions. Choose varieties the target buyers accept, that suit the site's chill hours or climate, and for which planting rights are clear.
Sources: [5] Produce Report
Quality, maturity and post-harvest
SeedMatch analysis
Maturity and quality
Buyers specify measurable targets: for avocados, size count and a maturity indicator such as dry matter; for cherries, calibre, colour, firmness and sugar. Agree the measurement method and threshold in the contract.
Cooling and cold chain
Both fruits lose value quickly without fast cooling and a continuous cold chain. Where a destination requires cold treatment against pests, the treatment period must fit within the fruit's storage life and the transit time.
Packing and traceability
Pack formats, labels and lot codes should match the buyer and the destination's rules. Registered orchards and packhouses must be traceable on every carton where the protocol requires it.
Export-readiness checklist
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Market-access status for the product and destination | Without it, the product cannot be shipped legally |
| Orchard, packhouse and treatment facility registration where required | Unregistered facilities are refused at the border |
| Phytosanitary certificate content and treatment records | Certificates and declarations are checked on arrival |
| Residue limits of the destination | Non-compliant fruit can be returned or destroyed |
| Volume and weeks committed, by variety | Buyers plan programmes around reliable windows |
| Cold-chain plan and transit time | Shelf life decides whether quality survives to retail |
Sources: [3] General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), [6] International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), FAO
Frequently asked questions
Is avocado trade still growing?
Yes, according to the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2026-2035: global avocado exports grew an estimated 13% in 2025 to around 3.3 million tonnes, and avocado is on track to become the most traded major tropical fruit by quantity, reaching 4.3 Mt of exports by 2035. These are projections.
Can South African cherries be shipped to China now?
Not as of 21 October 2026. A protocol was signed on 8 September 2026 and GACC Announcement No. 140 of 2026 sets the requirements, but China had not yet confirmed that South Africa met them, so commercial shipments had not begun and no start date was confirmed.
How big is China's cherry import market?
About 586,900 tonnes worth about US$3.3 billion in 2025, according to South Africa's government; GACC data reported by Produce Report give about 586,700 tonnes and US$3.432 billion. Both are 2025 figures, not forecasts.
What makes avocado or cherry supply export-ready?
Confirmed market access, registered facilities where required, a compliant phytosanitary certificate and treatment, residue control for the destination, committed volumes by week and variety, and a cold chain that preserves quality for the full transit time.
Does market access mean a specific exporter is approved?
No. Access is granted to a country for a product. Each orchard, packhouse and treatment facility must meet the protocol and, where required, be registered with the importing country.
Does SeedMatch Group sell avocados or cherries?
No. SeedMatch Group does not grow, pack or export fruit. Buyers submit structured requirements and our team coordinates sourcing through Global B2B Group, without direct buyer–supplier contact. The service is free for buyers; programmes start at USD 250,000.
Building or buying an avocado or cherry programme?
Buyers: send product, variety, grade, volume, window, port and documents. Growers: send your orchard, nursery or post-harvest project. A specialist reviews each request; nothing is promised before supply and documents are checked.
Produce procurement is coordinated through Global B2B Group, SeedMatch Group's parent group. globalb2bgroup.com
Each participant remains responsible under applicable law for the requirements of its own role. Producers and exporters are responsible for the products and shipments they supply; buyers and importers for import permissions, local requirements and due diligence. This article is not legal or regulatory advice.
Availability and the ability to trade depend on the law of each origin, destination and transit country and on the relevant permits and approvals. SeedMatch Group is not a manufacturer, importer, exporter, seller or regulatory approver; requests are reviewed by our team before any commercial introduction. Each participant is responsible for the requirements of its own role under applicable law: suppliers for their products in the origin and destination countries, buyers for their own import permissions and due diligence. We do not guarantee any supplier's compliance. Participant responsibilities · Regulation & restricted items
Related SeedMatch guides
References
Official, data and dated trade sources cited in this article. Points marked “SeedMatch analysis” are our interpretation.
- OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2026-2035, Chapter 10 “Other products”, section 10.3.4 Avocado — OECD and FAO · 2026-06-29
- Minister Willie Aucamp signs protocol opening market for the export of South African cherries to China — Department of Agriculture, South Africa (gov.za) · 2026-09-08
- 海关总署公告2026年第140号 (GACC Announcement No. 140 of 2026: phytosanitary requirements for fresh South African cherries) — General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) · 2026-09-21
- SA cherry growers await China approval before exports (citing Reuters via Engineering News, 21 Oct 2026) — Business News South Africa · 2026-10-22
- South African cherries secure China market access (GACC data on China's 2025 imports; South African season timing) — Produce Report · 2026-09-09
- ISPM 12: Phytosanitary certificates — International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), FAO · accessed 2026-10-25