Online searches and online sales volume of cranberries, cranberry juice, jam and dried cranberries have surged in recent days.
The area extending from China's easternmost city of Fuyuan in Heilongjiang to Heihe on the Russian border is Asia's largest cranberry producing area.
In terms of flavor, cherry, blueberry and cranberry have become the most popular flavors in the past three years, the institute said.
And for US cranberry producers, the tariffs are crimping sales of the fruit that is a staple of American Thanksgiving dinners.
China, the European Union and Mexico — the top three markets for US cranberry exports and which together count for more than half of those exports — all are slapping tariffs on the bitter berry produced primarily in the US and Canada.
US cranberry prices have been falling since 2015, according to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) data.
Concerns about losing share in the increasingly important international market due to the tariffs have arisen among US cranberry growers, said Terry Humfeld, executive director of the Cranberry Institute.
Approximately 250 Wisconsin growers, as well as cranberry processors, product manufacturers and others that rely on a strong cranberry industry will be affected, said Tom Lochner, executive director of the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association.
“International exports are an important part of the Wisconsin cranberry industry and market.
Both markets are now tightening for US cranberries, with the EU’s 25 percent tariff on US cranberry juice concentrate imports started June 22, and China’s 25 percent tariff on fresh and dried cranberries effective July 6.
China recorded a 328 percent increase in dried cranberry imports from Canada, as indicated in a USDA report.
“We remain hopeful that all parties involved can reach solutions that allow us to remain competitive in providing cranberry products to millions of consumers worldwide,” he said.