Chinese consumers could soon be enjoying Okanagan cherries.
An agreement signed between Canada and China commits the two countries to work on access for a number of specific foods, including cherries.
“We are very pleased to see this progress on access to China for B.C. cherries,” said Christine Dendy, with the Okanagan-Kootenay Cherry Growers Association.
“A final agreement has the potential to immediately garner $10 million or more in cherry sales to China.”
B.C. exported about $29-million worth of cherries in 2010, with more than $7.5 million to Taiwan and $5 million to Hong Kong.
The top export markets for B.C. sweet cherries are the U.S., Taiwan, Hong Kong, Britain and the Netherlands.
B.C. cherry growers employ more than 3,000 people during the harvest season.
