Monitoring Today to Protect Tomorrow’s Harvest

Crop protection

07 Oct 2026

A study carried out in southern Bulgaria monitored phytophagous insects in cherry orchards and confirmed the presence of Rhagoletis cerasi. Drosophila suzukii was not detected, highlighting the value of early monitoring for targeted, sustainable cherry crop protection.

Australian cherries in the spotlight: rising consumption and growing interest in premium quality

Consumption

07 Oct 2026

Australia closed a strong 2025-26 cherry season, with exports reaching 4,950 tonnes, up 13% in volume and 22% in value. Tasmania and Victoria led shipments, while China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Taiwan and Singapore absorbed about 80% of total Australian cherry exports.

In Extremadura, agricultural insurance subsidies are being increased: up to 75 per cent for cherries in 2026

Tech management

06 Oct 2026

Extremadura is raising agricultural insurance subsidies in 2026: general support rises from 40% to 45%, while help for cherry growers increases from 60% to 75%. The new rates apply from 1 January, with refunds for eligible policies already taken out earlier in the year.

50 per cent increase in exports of frozen Chilean cherries

Processed

06 Oct 2026

Chile’s processed fruit and vegetable exports rose 7% in January-August 2026, totalling US$2.271 billion. Frozen products led growth, with raspberry export value up 63% and cherries up 51%, supported by higher volumes and prices and a broader international market reach.

Germany: production of sweet cherries is on the rise, whilst that of sour cherries is falling

Production

06 Oct 2026

Germany’s 2026 cherry harvest reached 48,500 tonnes, 7.8% above the ten-year average. Sweet cherries drove the increase, while sour cherry output fell 16.8%. Destatis also reported sharp regional differences among Germany’s main cherry-producing regions and states.

Bumblebees could help combat bacterial diseases in cherry trees

Crop protection

05 Oct 2026

Bumblebees can carry bacteriophages directly to cherry blossoms, helping reduce Pseudomonas syringae populations. A University of Warwick study highlights a targeted biological approach that could support cherry grower while reducing reliance on conventional pesticides.

Expansion, varietal renewal and technological progress are reshaping the landscape of the Chilean cherry sector

Production

05 Oct 2026

Chile’s cherry industry is entering a new phase: 77,766 hectares, young orchards and major varietal renewal. An ODEPA study shows how Santina, Lapins and Regina, together with drip irrigation, could support a further increase in future cherry production across Chile.

The Chilean cherry season has started early, but with a 50 per cent drop in the earliest-ripening areas

Processed

02 Oct 2026

In Coquimbo, Chile, the cherry harvest could begin between October 10 and 15, one of the earliest dates ever recorded in the region. Production is expected to fall by 50%, while larger fruit, higher sugar levels and access to new markets could support growers this season.

How real-time tracking maintains and protects the quality of cherries

Post-harvest​

02 Oct 2026

In New Zealand, real-time monitoring with IoT sensors helps cherry growers track temperature and humidity during transport, prevent spoilage, reduce food waste and preserve quality and freshness from the orchard to the market throughout the entire cold-chain journey.

The competitiveness of cherries on international markets will increasingly depend on the efficiency of refrigerated logistics

Post-harvest​

01 Oct 2026

Chile’s 2026/27 cherry season is projected at 132 million boxes. With volumes rising and China still the key market, refrigerated transport, cold chain management, traceability and advance logistics planning will be crucial to protect quality, timing and profitability.

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.