Picota del Jerte: excellent start, but watch out for fraud in the market

20 Jun 2024
2054

The campaign of Picota cherries from Jerte has started positively in the north of the Spanish province of Caceres, "with good volumes and high quality", says Fátima López-Santamaría, a technician from DOP Cereza del Jerte. "We had a couple of days of rain that might have caused some losses.

An evaluation has not yet been made to quantify the affected volume; however, for now, these losses seem to be insignificant. In fact, the impact has been more evident in other intermediate varieties of cherries than in the late Ambrunés varieties, which are the Picotas from Jerte covered by the DOP Cereza del Jerte".

Producers from Extremadura still remember last year's campaign, in which, unfortunately, the rains had a decisive impact. "For this reason, we hope that the losses are minimal and not noteworthy", he says. "Especially this year, in which the quality of Jerte Picota cherries is extraordinary".

The Picota del Jerte is a variety of cherry originating from the Jerte Valley, where it has been traditionally cultivated among mountains over 1,000 meters in altitude since the 17th century, as stated by the DOP.

"It is essential to remember that the harvesting of Picota cherries, highly demanded in both the domestic and export markets, begins in mid-June, because one of the most significant problems that the DOP faces every year is the commercialization of regular cherries with the stalk removed to pass them off as Picota cherries, illegally using the DOP brand for fruits that are neither an authentic Picota cherry nor certified or authorized by the DOP Regulatory Council".

Read the full article: FreshPlaza
Image: Financial Food


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

Meizao cherries: 30 μm LDPE MAP packaging extends shelf life in China

Post-harvest​

08 Oct 2025

A Chinese study shows how 30 μm LDPE (PE30) film extends Meizao cherries' shelf life up to 60 days. It reduces spoilage and preserves nutritional quality, texture and appearance, offering an effective, scalable packaging solution for Chinese producers, retailers and distributors.

Cherry allergy: tips for diagnosis, treatment and prevention

Health

18 Jul 2024

Allergy to cherries can be primary or secondary. Primary cherry allergy occurs when the immune system reacts directly to the cherry protein itself. Secondary cherry allergy, on the other hand, is a phenomenon of cross-reactivity.

In evidenza

Why retractable rain covers are the smart choice for family-run cherry orchards

Covers

27 Mar 2026

Retractable rain covers enhance yield and fruit quality in family cherry orchards in Chile. They provide climate protection, increased light exposure and efficient labor management, offering a flexible solution for small growers seeking stability and cost optimization.

Insect nets in cherry orchards: microclimate and phenology effects in France

Covers

27 Mar 2026

Insect nets in cherry orchards modify temperature, humidity and solar radiation, shaping the microclimate without altering plant phenology. Data from the Ceris’innov project in France highlight effects on heat, wind, fruit development, quality and orchard management.

Tag Popolari