Portrait of a sweet cherry breeder: Gregorio Lopez-Ortega
18 Jan 2024
n this article, José Quero García, member of the technical-scientific committee of Cherry Times, interviewed Gregorio Lopez-Ortega, breeder at the Chilean company Hortifrut.
In 2023, the Californian cherry industry faced a difficult season due to a late oversupply, which led to severe economic losses. Due to a prolonged winter that lasted into the first weeks of spring, the harvest got off to an extremely slow start, creating an oversupply when the season overlapped with the Pacific Northwest. This overlap saturated supply channels and led to a less profitable market than in previous years.
The oversupply of cherries caused further problems, as most of the fruit in the Northwest ripened within only six weeks, forcing many growers to abandon orchards or harvest lower quality fruit to cover production costs. This created serious concerns within the industry, with many operators facing a surplus of cherries without sufficient demand to absorb it.
However, for 2024, the industry is preparing for a very different situation. Despite another wet winter, the timing of fruit ripening seems to be more in line with historical norms, predicting a shorter harvest but more in line with market expectations. According to experts such as Mark Calder of Spring Marketing, the season should have a more typical timing, with some early varieties reaching their peak production by the end of April and a steady volume in the southern regions of the San Joaquin Valley by early May.
Dave Martin of Stemilt Growers also joins the chorus of optimism, predicting a more moderate volume than the previous season. He expects varieties such as Coral and Bing to reach their peak production at predictable dates, ensuring a more stable supply in the market. Although challenges persist, the industry is determined to recover from the disappointment of 2023 and restore confidence among consumers and industry players.
In parallel, the industry continues to explore new cherry varieties, looking for complementary options to Bing, which remains a favourite in the Asian market. Variations such as the Black Pearl are gaining attention, offering unique characteristics that could satisfy consumer needs and further diversify the industry's supply. With these new perspectives and development strategies, the California cherry industry looks to the future with cautious optimism and determination to overcome past challenges.
Read the full article: Asia Fruit
Image: gregalder.com
