The first cherries of the new season have already appeared in Ukraine, but due to spring frosts and a limited harvest, prices are high - Ukrainian berries cost approximately 180-200 UAH/kg. At the same time, at the start of the season, the market is partially filled with imported cherries, which, due to logistics and shortages, can reach about 1000 UAH/kg. The start of the season is reported by Suspilne. Uzhgorod" Early varieties have already begun to ripen in Transcarpathia, and local residents are collecting the first harvests, both for their own consumption and for sale..

However, the start of the season this year is difficult, because the weather was unstable, with spring frosts and sudden temperature changes, this directly affected the number of berries and the overall yield. It is the Transcarpathian region that is traditionally the first in Ukraine to enter the market with new harvest cherries.

Local gardeners say that in favorable years one tree can produce up to 50 kg of berries, but in 2026 the situation is much worse. Due to frosts and cold nights, some of the color simply did not bud. Farmers note that the biggest problem in recent years is an unstable spring:.

As a result, yields fall and the price of early berries rises. The first prices on the market already show that cherries this season will not be cheap. The situation on Ukrainian markets looks like this:.

The most expensive so far remains precisely imported products, which actually fill the market until the mass ripening of Ukrainian berries. In Uzhgorod, for example, at the beginning of the season, almost all the cherries on the shelves are imported, while local berries are just beginning to appear in small volumes. The difference in price between Ukrainian and imported cherries is explained by several factors:.

In fact, imported cherries serve as a “market filler” until the moment when Ukrainian producers reach mass volumes. Transcarpathian gardeners say that 2026 is no exception to climate challenges. Weather conditions hit yields again.

Residents of the region note that trees have become more sensitive to climate change; a warm spring stimulates rapid flowering, but subsequent cold snaps often “reset” part of the harvest. As a result, some trees produce significantly less fruit, and some plantings bear almost no fruit..

For many farms, this means lower sales volumes and higher production costs.. Now the market is at the very start of the season, when prices are traditionally the highest. The supply of Ukrainian cherries is still limited, so they cannot significantly influence the overall price situation.