Yamagata Sato Nishiki Cherry (export gift grade)

Sato Nishiki (佐藤錦) — Yamagata · Yamagata, Japan
Fresh & Specialty Fruit Chilled Growing export

Flagship Japanese sweet cherry — ~70% of national production is Yamagata; prized for balanced sweetness-acidity, glossy color and relatively long shelf life enabling air export. Premium gift packs in single-layer trays.

The supplierYamagata is Japan's dominant cherry prefecture; JA co-ops grade and pack to single-layer export trays for air freight gifting.
Why it sells abroadIconic short-season luxury cherry; long-keeping for a cherry, enabling Asia air export.

Buyer's brief ✓ SOURCES VERIFIED

Certifications(confirmed) Per-shipment phytosanitary certificate required (standard for fresh stone-fruit export; some destinations require cold treatment/fumigation). Yamagata is Japan's largest cherry producer and Sato Nishiki the dominant variety; prefectural/JA gift grading applies. JGAP at 'some farms': plausible but specific farm certificates not publicly verified.
Pack formatsSingle-layer gift trays 200-500g; bara-zume (loose-fill) cartons (draft retained)
Shelf life~5-7 days chilled (draft retained; highly perishable, air-freighted)
StorageKeep refrigerated 0-5C; do not freeze; consume quickly
Minimum orderTypical: air-freight gift lots
Lead timeTypical: 2-3 days air freight in season
CapacityVery short window: mid-June to early July
Container loadAir-freight cartons only (extremely perishable)
PricingTypical: JPY 5,000-15,000 gift tray retail
OEM / private labelNo
Wholesale & MOQTypical: gift trays JPY 5,000-15,000 retail; export FOB per lot
Key exporters & distributorsYamagata JA export desks, J-FEC member traders
Export regulationFresh cherry from Japan: TW/HK/SG accept with phytosanitary certificate. US/AU access for Japanese cherries is restricted (codling moth / fruit-fly host concerns) — do NOT assume US shelf access without APHIS treatment protocol; current confirmed lanes are East/SE Asia.
Market demandStrong seasonal gifting demand in Taiwan/HK; premium hotel use
How to source itYamagata JA cherry co-ops (e.g. JA Yamagata Murayama / JA Higashine area) -> licensed exporter -> air freight -> Asian gourmet importer (Taiwan/HK/SG)
Verified sourceshttps://web-japan.org/kidsweb/local/satonishiki/; https://phytosanitarysolutions.com/japan/
MakerYamagata JA cherry co-ops (e.g. JA Yamagata Murayama / JA Higashine)
OriginYamagata, Japan
CategoryFresh & Specialty / Fruit
Available inTaiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand
HandlingChilled
Price tierPremium
ChannelPremium/Gift
Export readinessGrowing export
HS code0809.29
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Profile maintained by Japonity (japonity.com), May 2026. General sourcing information only — confirm current availability, pricing, MOQ and the destination market's import rules with the maker or exporter before contracting. Japonity is not affiliated with this brand.