Stefano Lugli - SL Fruit Service
Cherry Times technical-scientific committee
The areas invested in cherry orchards in Italy continue to decrease and the national production of Italy's most beloved fruit fell dramatically in 2013. Will Romagna cherries save us or will we have to get used to eating Turkish and Uzbek cherries? Probably yes.
Thanks to the investments made by Apofruit in the Cesena and Forlì area and those of Agrintesa in the Faenza area, according to the latest CIA report, Romagna has almost doubled its cherry tree surfaces in just 10 years, in contrast to national trends and those of its rich and noble cousins from Vignola.
Unfortunately, cherry growing in Romagna, like so many others, has had to suffer the devastating effects of climate change this year: frost, rain and floods that have effectively wiped out local cherry production. Read the CIA report here.
And if the people of Romagna are crying today, while looking with some optimism at their future, the people of Emilia are certainly not laughing and see any prospect of growth in the cherry sector as smoke in their eyes.
There are few rays of sunshine and many clouds on the horizon: suffice it to say that Vignola's famous cherries hit an all-time low in 2023 after 150 years, with just 3,000 tonnes of cherries harvested. And instead of investing in new plantings, cherry trees continue to be cut down in Vignola. Just as in Apulia, Italy's leading region in cherry production.
We are drifting. And it is not just the fault of climate change.
22 Oct 2024
The Chilean cherry industry has been aware of the importance of market diversification but has struggled to expand beyond the lucrative Chinese market due to the high prices paid in that country. However, India is emerging as a promising alternative destination.
13 Sep 2024
According to Minister for Primary Industries Jane Howlett: “We know that gaining new markets will further grow the industry which is why our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's future commits 600,000 dollars to Fruit Growers Tasmania to expand its commercial presence”.
19 Dec 2025
Cracking in sweet cherry fruit can lead to total crop loss. A Ukrainian study highlights genetic and morphological causes, showing how variety and ripening time affect split types. Cultivars like Mliivska žovta, Mirazh and Amazonka showed the best resilience.
19 Dec 2025
A detailed study highlights how high-pressure humidification in cold storage rooms significantly reduces cherry dehydration after hydrocooling, preserving fruit quality during post-harvest storage and before packaging, even in heterogeneous conditions.
