Michigan stands out as a prominent hub for cultivating tart cherries in the United States, boasting a staggering 75% of the nation's acreage devoted to this tart cherry variety. The harvesting process for these trees relies on a method known as tree shaking, whereby the cherries are dislodged from the trees using mechanical shaking.
Regrettably, the established method of utilizing mechanical shakers to harvest the cherries comes with its drawbacks. One notable downside is that the trees must mature for 7 to 8 years before they can be harvested. This extended growth period demands a substantial financial investment before any returns can be realized from these new plantings. Additionally, the use of mechanical shakers has the potential to cause harm to the tree trunks, thereby compromising the orchard's longevity.
Oxley Farms, helmed by Ed, Chris, and Rick Oxley, operates a 250-acre tart cherry orchard in Lawton, Michigan. A pivotal moment occurred in 2010 when a hailstorm decimated a 50-acre section of young tart cherry trees. Faced with this setback, the Oxleys sought guidance from Michigan State University Extension, as researchers there were experimenting with alternative high-density planting methods and innovative over-the-row (OTR) harvesting techniques.
They embarked on the creation of a unique machine, drawing inspiration from harvesters used in grape, blueberry, cherry, and coffee production.
La raccoglitrice di ciliegie OTR (Over The Row), costruita su misura, utilizza i denti rotanti per scuotere i frutti dai singoli rami. Foto di Jackie Perkins, Michigan State University.
The Oxleys' latest planting strategy involves spacing trees at intervals of 9 feet along the rows while maintaining a standard row width. This configuration effectively doubles the number of trees per row, while still permitting the use of a trunk shaker once the trees outgrow the OTR method's capacity.
Read the full article: Michigan State University
Image: Michigan State University
23 Nov 2023
Rootstock tolerance to conditions of soil saturation can be improved through the activation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defence mechanisms by the application of amino acids that can improve the plants' response to unfavourable conditions caused by water logging.
14 Jan 2025
From 2018 to 2020, researchers from Moldova State University of Agriculture conducted a study aimed at assessing the impact of pruning on both the resting and developmental stages of cherry trees of the ‘Regina’ variety, grafted onto the MaxMa 14 rootstock.
05 Nov 2026
Argentina’s cherry season is expected to start 5 to 15 days late. If weather conditions are favorable, exports could approach 8,500 tonnes, with annual growth forecast at 10%. The first shipments to international markets are expected between late October and early November.
05 Nov 2026
Moldova and Uzbekistan show different paths for cherry exports. Moldova expanded markets and increased revenues after 2022, while Uzbekistan concentrated sales in Russia. Ukraine’s experience highlights why investment and market diversification matter for competitiveness.
