Finca Albalate's greenhouses offer optimal conditions for promoting cherry cultivation

26 Jul 2024
1629

Javier de Pablo is a Spanish agricultural engineer with twenty years of experience in cherry cultivation under controlled greenhouse conditions. From the beginning, his commitment has been pioneering and, in addition to allowing him to produce cherries of the highest quality, it has opened doors to numerous phytosanitary and fertilization companies, breeders, nurseries, and public research centers seeking comprehensive solutions for developing new products, practices, or varieties in the sector.

To channel this fruitful relationship with his clients, Javier de Pablo has just created the “Finca Albalate” brand, with a renewed corporate design and a portfolio that includes all the agronomic services he already provides, supported by the human and material resources he has available.

Image 1: Greenhouse area.

The team led by Javier de Pablo includes, among others, Santiago Achón, the farm's production manager with 25 years of experience in controlling, managing, and harvesting fruit trees and an expert in tree multiplication through shield budding, whip grafting, and English grafting techniques. Idoia Remón holds a degree in Biotechnology and specializes in quality analysis and phenological monitoring of trials and varieties.

Finca Albalate (Aragon, Spain) has a unique infrastructure in the cherry sector for conducting trials:

  • Multicapillary plot (2 hectares): a single environment. It has lateral and zenithal windows.
  • Individual tunnels (4 hectares): divided into 35 mini-greenhouses.
  • Outdoor cherry trees (34 hectares): Brooks, Prime Giant, Coral Champagne, and several of the latest varieties in the current panorama.

Image 2: Javier de Pablo.

Thanks to these facilities, “Finca Albalate” conducts various types of agronomic trials tailored to the needs of each of its clients:

  • Varieties and rootstocks: possibility of conducting trials outdoors or in greenhouses for breeders and nurseries. Combination of varieties with different rootstocks. Production of cherries in pots.
  • Fertilization: application, analysis, and study of different fertilizers for crust formation, color, hardness, sugar content, or earliness.
  • Phytosanitary tests.
  • Phenological controls: weekly monitoring of the productive state of the cherry tree, leaves, fruit size, and hardness.

Recently, some of this work has also been carried out on other external farms belonging to their clients, located in different areas of Spain, Azerbaijan, or Georgia: a clear example is the tests carried out with the company SAS, where the homogenization of flower products is being tested.

As part of the company's international expansion, Javier de Pablo provides consulting services in other countries worldwide, such as Portugal, Uzbekistan, and, more recently, Chile, as a global expert in greenhouse cherry cultivation. At this point, he covers the entire cultivation cycle, starting from the design of the farm itself:

  • In-depth study of soil and climate.
  • Soil analysis: pH, nutrients, and texture.
  • Variety selection.
  • Advice on choosing materials and designing greenhouses.

Image 3: Intensive greenhouses.

In addition to this initial work, Javier de Pablo also offers personalized support in agronomic management:

  • Implementation and application of efficient irrigation.
  • Pruning guidance.
  • Monitoring and control of flowering and fruit set.
  • Pest and disease control strategies.
  • Technical assistance throughout the year.
  • Technical assistance throughout the entire cultivation process.
  • Implementation of training and education programs. 

Finca Albalate is a new brand for the consulting services and agronomic work carried out by Javier de Pablo and his team of technicians and experts. His contact is javierdepablo@fincaalbalate.com

Source: Finca Albalate
Image: Finca Albalate


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

Biofactories and sustainability: FabLab develops new materials and circular projects for cherries

Processed

05 Nov 2025

For ten years, the FabLab at the University of Chile has been promoting biofabrication as a path to reduce waste and regenerate natural resources. Using cherry pits, innovators create new sustainable materials and design solutions that merge science, art, and environmental care.

Cherry cultivation in South America: Tapia focuses on irrigation, pruning and rootstocks

Tech management

16 Sep 2025

Chilean agronomist Sebastián Tapia will speak at the VI Huacho Symposium. His focus on cherries highlights water management, early pruning, and rootstock choice as essential tools to achieve premium fruit quality, even in regions facing shorter or milder winter conditions.

In evidenza

Export record: Moldova exported more sour cherries than it consumed

Production

20 Apr 2026

In 2025, Moldova reached a record in sour cherry exports, surpassing domestic consumption, with 55% of output shipped abroad. Rising prices and lack of irrigation are affecting fruit quality, yields and the overall competitiveness of the national cherry supply chain.

Raimundo Cuevas: "The cherry industry has entered a new era, and not all orchards will survive"

Production

20 Apr 2026

In Chile’s cherry sector, oversupply and rising costs are reshaping the market. According to Raimundo Cuevas, not all orchards will survive: higher productivity, new varieties and a redefinition of growing areas will be essential to maintain profitability in the coming years.

Tag Popolari