Analysts from EastFruit report that consumers in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, now have year-round access to imported premium fruit. Supermarkets are currently offering fresh cherries from Chile at 991 somoni per kilogram, which is approximately US$107.

During the domestic summer season, cherries are widely available at bazaars and retail outlets for around US$2 per kilogram. The availability of imported Southern Hemisphere cherries during winter was not common in previous years, but supermarkets now stock these products.

Analysts note that the current retail price places winter cherries above the cost of meat, limiting access for many households. However, they state that a segment of consumers is purchasing these imports as higher incomes linked to expanding trade and private enterprise provide greater purchasing capacity.

Local comparisons have been made with trends in China, where winter cherry consumption became associated with rising incomes. In Tajikistan, dried apricots, or kuraga, are traditionally viewed as the country’s symbolic fruit. According to EastFruit, consumption of dried fruits has been declining as more consumers shift toward fresh fruit options available during winter.

The retail presence of imported cherries reflects a broader market development in which supermarkets and traders source produce from distant origins, including Chile and other Southern Hemisphere suppliers, to supply premium fruit outside Tajikistan’s normal production window.

Source: EastFruit