Project Description:
To develop a detailed market assessment of the market for sour cherries and sour cherry products in Canada. This project will complement work that has previously been done by the University of Saskatchewan and provide producers with specific information needed to determine the profitability of their sour cherry operations.
Project Objective:
To expand the capacity of the fruit industry in Western Canada and respond to the development of cherries as a functional food with health benefits.
Performance Report:
This project addresses the issues of developing cherries as a functional food with health benefits and expanding the organic production in the cherry sector. This market research project was completed to expand the capacity of the fruit industry in Western Canada to respond to the issues of the development of cherries as a functional food with health benefits, diversification of agricultural production, and the expansion of organic cherry production. The project developed a detailed market assessment of opportunities in new and traditional markets. The research resulted in the creation and distribution of a report on cherry marketing in Western Canada. The report concludes the production and processing of sour cherries on the Canadian Prairies is a viable opportunity. The project reported a promising future for the organic cherry market. The proponent reported completing most of the projects initial objectives. Beneficiaries of the project included farm families, rural Canadians, and agricultural producers who are involved in cherry production on the Canadian prairies. The project results were made available to more than 250 members of the Saskatchewan Fruit Growers Association. Successful branding of the Canadian sour cherry will play an important role in the future development of the sour cherry market.
