Mendoza (Argentina): early start due to weather conditions

20 Oct 2023
2499

The farm Güizzo Frutas Frescas S.A., based in Mendoza, started the commercial harvest of this fruit produced in Argentina yesterday, 19 October, and for the third year in a row it has succeeded in starting in week 42.

"We are starting the season with the varieties of the Royal series, which have shown excellent adaptation to be harvested in the northern area of Mendoza from week 42. This year in particular we are starting the harvest two days earlier than last season, which is the earliest in recent years," says Nicolás Güizzo, technical director of the Mendoza-based company.

Nicolás Güizzo also adds that 'Mendoza has the particularity of guaranteeing a good entry into the dormancy period with more than 400 hours of accumulated winter cold. Added to this is a good accumulation of cold hours. This allows most of the early varieties to show interesting yields with excellent quality and, above all, very early harvest dates compared to other production areas.

The farm, which has been present in Mendoza for over 40 years, specialises in the production of early varieties of cherries. These are marketed entirely by air to the European Union, the United Kingdom, the Middle East and the Far East, as well as supplying the main retailers and wholesalers in the Argentinean domestic market.

Today, they manage the production of cherries on 50 hectares distributed mainly in the areas of Luján de Cuyo and Valle de Uco, located in the province of Mendoza. The most cultivated cherry varieties are Royal Dawn, Brooks, Nimba, Pacific Red, Santina and Lapins, among others.

Engineer Nicolás Güizzo adds that "in the last few years, the company has been making an important reconversion towards cultivation with new varieties of early production, with the idea of being able to anticipate the start of the harvest to the 41st week in Mendoza in a few years".

He also stated that "trials are being carried out with varieties with low winter chilling requirements in a non-traditional area for the cherry tree such as the north-west of Argentina, where we believe that in about four years we could harvest cherries during the 40th and 41st week.

"We are very focused on bringing forward the start of the harvest season to the first half of October, as the consumer markets are practically free of this seductive fruit," he concludes

Source: Güizzo Frutas Frescas S.A

Images: Güizzo Frutas Frescas S.A


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

Magnesium and potassium for increased fruit quality

Tech management

24 Oct 2024

The focus of the study conducted at the Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena (Spain) and the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (Portugal) was to evaluate the effects of foliar application of magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) on fruit quality parameters.

Subsidies and consultancy: a boost for the digitisation of the production process

Post-harvest​

29 Nov 2024

The management of ESPAGRY IBÉRICA needed to digitise part of the production process and opted to purchase a machine with artificial intelligence. The cost of the machine was partially subsidised by the regional government.

In evidenza

The genes that determine the colour and size of cherries

Breeding

17 Apr 2026

A study on sweet cherry grown in Northern Greece examines transcription factors PaWRKY57 and PaNAC29, highlighting their key role in fruit growth, color development and in the molecular mechanisms regulating ripening in non-climacteric fruit species.

A study reveals that the rootstock-variety combination is key to increasing drought tolerance in cherry trees

Rootstocks

17 Apr 2026

CEAF research shows that rootstock and variety combinations influence drought tolerance in cherry trees in Chile, where rainfall is sharply declining. The study highlights strategies to improve water use efficiency and irrigation management in extreme climate conditions.

Tag Popolari