Despite adverse weather conditions this year due to the El Niño phenomenon, Bloom Fresh, a company resulting from the merger of SNFL and IFG, successfully demonstrated the earliness of their new low-chill cherry varieties. They organized an event in Tabalí, in the Coquimbo region, to showcase these varieties, which managed to fruit even without the usual cold conditions and winter rest management.
In the Westfalia orchard, after a four-year testing period, one of their varieties called Cheery Crunch was harvested in week 43, without any cold accumulation or covering, proving to be earlier than traditional varieties like Brooks.
Interestingly, in the Tabalí area, the Valle Arriba company managed to harvest the Brooks variety in week 41, while the rest of the region had expected the harvest in weeks 42 and 43.
As part of their commitment to low-chill varieties, Bloom Fresh is exploring new cultivation areas, such as Arica in northern Chile and even in Brazil, where they are seeking suitable locations for these varieties that require around 200 hours of cold. They are investing in "test blocks" in these regions to assess feasibility.
Read the full article: RedagrÍcola
Images: RedagrÍcola, IFG
29 Aug 2024
To achieve year-round production, Pairwise is drawing inspiration from blueberries and working to change the environmental requirements for growing cherries. It took decades of breeding to develop blueberries, but Adams believes that gene editing can help accelerate the process.
21 Aug 2025
Canadian dwarf cherries unite cold resistance, compact growth, and naturally dark pulp ideal for food processing. Sweet and high-sugar fruits, easy to harvest and propagate, offer strong potential for pie fillings, juices, wines, dried cherries, and innovative products.
15 Sep 2025
Flowering, pollination and fruit set are key stages for cherry yield and quality. By applying ethylene inhibitors, cytokinins, pollinator attractants, fungicides and vigor control, growers can improve fruit set, size, firmness and orchard health, ensuring better market results.
15 Sep 2025
The Chilean Cherry Committee launches a strategy in South Korea focused on health, digital promotion and tastings in retail stores. The goal is to surpass the strong competition from local strawberries and win over Korean women consumers aged between 18 and 50 years.
