So far, in 2024, Argentina has exported 7,210 tons of cherries to Europe, the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore, and China, with an average price of 4 dollars per kilo, according to the Argentine Chamber of Integrated Cherry Producers (CAPCI). To maintain this commercial value and improve the quality of the cherries destined for export, a team of INTA specialists developed an electronic cherry that records the points where the fruit is hit and allows processes to be improved.
“To reduce as much as possible the damage sustained by the cherry during the packaging and final transport stages, we developed an electronic cherry with sensors that go through the processes alongside the rest of the fruit and report the movements and impacts the fruit receives,” explained Andrés Moltoni, head of the INTA Agroelectronics Laboratory.
According to the expert, during packaging and transport processes, cherries receive hits that later cause surface damage to the fruit - the so-called pitting - which reduce its commercial value.
“On average, 5% of cherries are lost due to pitting,” and he did not hesitate to estimate that ‘the application of this technology allows for process improvement and proper decision-making could lead to a 50% reduction in losses, that is, 2.5% of all exported cherries, amounting to 180,000 kilos, which is equivalent to 720,000 dollars.’
In this regard, Liliana San Martino - a researcher at INTA Los Antiguos, Santa Cruz - took a step further, recognizing that “losses due to pitting in packaging plants can vary between 10 and 40%, according to recent INTA tests.”
According to the specialist, “cherries are a very delicate fruit that requires careful handling and that shows the consequences of mistreatment up to 3 weeks after receiving the impact, that is, at the destination.” Hence the importance of reducing this impact.
The electronic cherry is a prototype not yet available for packaging centers. It is a second updated version that, according to the INTA electronics engineer, incorporates innovations such as a wireless Bluetooth transmitter, which allows the cherry to connect to a mobile device, and a rechargeable lithium battery with dimensions and weight suitable for the prototype's needs.
At the same time, the new version of the electronic cherry is equipped with an accelerometer with a greater scale background to record impacts. “The encapsulation covering the equipment was also improved, for which a 3D print was carried out, and several materials were tested, from hard plastics to flexible materials with different thicknesses, until finding the combination that achieved the best results in the measurements,” explained Moltoni.
03 Jan 2024
The Chinese market, says Sharon Kirk of Southern Fruits International, has shown more interest in 26mm fruit and 1kg boxes this year. So far there has been very good demand and the fruit will continue to be available for purchase online throughout the season.
23 Feb 2024
ANA Chile, a leading Chilean company in global fruit variety management, launched this cherry on the Asian market. In 2023, the company sold 2.4 million plants to local producers, extending cultivation to over 2,200 hectares in Chile.
29 Jan 2026
In Oregon’s Columbia Gorge, growers are reviving Royal Ann cherry orchards for processing. With lower risks and stable returns, this approach brings back a historic fruit industry focused on maraschino, glacé, and ingredient-grade cherries in the U.S. market.
29 Jan 2026
A genomic study identifies 38 AKR genes in sweet cherry, key to drought, salinity, and hormonal stress responses. The findings offer new opportunities for breeding resilient cultivars, vital for climate adaptation and increased crop stability and yield.
