Automatically mapping trunk diameter for precision management of tart cherry orchards

Tech management

01 Sep 2026

In the United States, a low-cost mobile system using RGB-D cameras, deep learning and digital odometry automatically measures sour cherry trunk diameter, geolocates individual trees and creates spatial maps to support precision orchard management at commercial scale.

ExpoCerezos 2026: all the presentations are online

Events

01 Sep 2026

ExpoCerezos 2026 makes its Curicó, Chile, presentations available online, covering new cherry varieties, orchard management, productivity, quality and markets. Five technical reports examine field results, current challenges and future prospects for the cherry industry.

ExpoCerezos 2026: quality, early ripening and new varieties pave the way for a more competitive sector

Events

01 Sep 2026

Chile's cherry industry is turning to varietal renewal: at ExpoCerezos 2026, ANA Chile presents results and prospects for Sweet Aryana and Nimba, two early varieties focused on earlier harvests, larger size, firmness and high fruit quality for demanding global markets.

Sweet Revolution: CDB and the Rootstock That Reshaped Cherry Production on Five Continents

Rootstocks

01 Sep 2026

From Germany to orchards across five continents, GiSelA® has transformed modern cherry growing. CDB supplies certified, productive rootstocks for intensive orchards worldwide, offering solutions for climate challenges, drought and the evolving needs of cherry growers.

Estimating flower density in cherry orchards using AI and smartphones

Tech management

31 Aug 2026

In Chile, artificial intelligence applied to smartphone photos can estimate cherry floral load. The method adapts the analysis to open or dense canopies and maps variability within the orchard, helping growers identify distinct management zones before the season begins.

Reducing cracking and improving sweet cherry quality: the potential of 24-epibrassinolide

Tech management

28 Aug 2026

In Alicante, pre-harvest 24-BL treatments reduced sweet cherry cracking by up to 50% while improving fruit size, firmness, red color and anthocyanin content. Tests on ‘Sunburst’ and ‘Skeena’ suggest a promising strategy to protect orchards from extreme rainfall events.

Robots will help elderly Japanese farmers to grow cherries

Tech management

28 Aug 2026

In Nishikawa, Yamagata Prefecture, robots, drones and sensors promise to support winter sakura growers. Yet an aging workforce, depopulation and mistrust of technology reveal how uncertain the future of Japanese agriculture remains despite smart farming investments.

Cherry and saline soils: rootstock selection is a strategic choice

Rootstocks

27 Aug 2026

A study in Xinjiang, China, compares five sweet cherry rootstocks under salt stress. Mahaleb CDR-1 and Daqingye show the strongest tolerance, maintaining better photosynthesis, osmotic adjustment and antioxidant defense even at high NaCl concentrations in lab trials.

A warm, rainy spring can put a strain on cherry orchards: advice from an expert

Tech management

27 Aug 2026

In Chile, El Niño is raising risks for cherry orchards as waterlogging can damage roots and disrupt budding and flowering, while preharvest rain may increase fruit cracking and rot. INIA Quilamapu highlights strategies to protect cherry quality, yield and postharvest life.

Pairwise’s seedless cherries and blackberries could revolutionise the future of food

Breeding

27 Aug 2026

CRISPR opens new prospects for cherries, blackberries and other crops as Pairwise develops seedless, thornless fruit, higher productivity and resilient varieties. The challenge is bringing gene editing from labs into farms amid costs, regulation and consumer acceptance.

Focus On

Cherry Times welcomes Jesús Alonso as a member of the technical scientific committee

Post-harvest​

08 Apr 2025

Dr. Jesús Alonso, postharvest scientist at CSIC, joins the Cherry Times technical scientific commitee. With deep expertise in cherry quality, storage technologies, and sustainable solutions, he supports innovation and technical development across the entire cherry supply chain.

Varietal innovation, patents and brand strategies, the winning trio for the modern cherry industry

Varieties

30 Jan 2025

For an in-depth look at the topics of varietal innovation and modern commercial development strategies for new cherry varieties, Stefano Lugli of Cherry Times interviewed James Calissi, owner of Calissi Farm, a company specialising in nursery and management of new varieties.

All the best of Cherry Times: highlights of 2024

Events

31 Dec 2024

The numbers speak for themselves: thanks to your interest, our analyses and in-depth articles have achieved extraordinary results. This article is dedicated to the content you loved the most: from the most thorough analyses to thematic insights.

CS Laimburg: the new cherry orchards will be 2D systems and mechanised

Events

24 Jun 2024

On Thursday, 20 June, a training meeting was held for farmers and technicians during which experts from CS Laimburg presented the results of the latest ongoing trials focusing on planting systems and techniques for managing cerasites.

Costs and profitability of cherry growing at different planting densities

Tech management

11 Jun 2024

The study compared 3 Grace Star plants with increasing density (low, medium and high), without cover, between the provinces of Modena and Forlì-Cesena. As the data show, the cherry tree in Emilia-Romagna is still a profitable investment.

Problems and prospects for cherry growing in northern Italy: -15% of production in 15 years

Quality

15 May 2024

Italy continues to lose positions in the ranking of the largest cherry producers in the world. Currently, the beautiful country is in seventh place, surpassed by Spain and chased by Greece. In just three five-year periods, national production has dropped by 15%.

How to produce quality cherries? The answer from the International Congress at Macfrut 2024

Quality

14 May 2024

Biosolutions can become a fundamental "pivot" for setting innovative technical lines worldwide. May 9th within Macfrut 2024 the International Congress titled: "Which biosolutions for quality cherries?" took place. Summaries of the presentations will be published on Cherry Times.

Growth in world trade over the last ten years shows over 900,000 tonnes and +266% growth

Markets

24 Apr 2024

From 2013 to 2022, world production increased from 2.3 to 2.75 million tonnes, while trade flows rose from 350,000 to 940,000 tonnes, an increase of 266%. The value of traded goods reached a record 4.3 billion euro.

The evolution of cherry production over the last 15 years

Production

15 Apr 2024

World supply rose from 1.85 to 2.75 million tonnes from 2008 to 2022, an increase of about 50%. The geography of world supply has not changed substantially over the past 15 years, although a concentration in a few countries can be observed.

Companies

Valente Pali: support and protection to guarantee a generous, high-quality harvest

Covers

07 Nov 2025

ValenteProtect© systems provide protection from rain, hail and insects, helping cherry growers secure abundant, healthy and market-ready harvests. Rain, Multishield and Insect Net systems ensure complete seasonal protection for top-quality yields.

Meda™: new early and intermediate cherry varieties in Europe

Varieties

04 Feb 2025

Meda™ varieties have been evaluated in Europe for three seasons now. All have been selected with a minimum of 35-40 days post-harvest. Meda™'s is the only breeding programme that has used postharvest as a selection filter.

Salvi Vivai: new intensive cherry orchards with excellent production

Varieties

02 Oct 2024

Significant data have been obtained in intensive French cherry orchards using cherry trees produced by Salvi Vivai (some of them from the Sweet series and the Marysa variety, all coming from the research program of University of Bologna).

Giacovelli: new varieties and zero residue cherries

Markets Production

27 Apr 2023

With a turnover of over 60 million euro, Giacovelli srl is one of the leading producers and marketers of fruit and vegetables in Apulia. Its passion and specialisation for cherries makes it one of Italy's leading producers of the red summer fruit.