Producers and retailers together for early and low-chill varieties at International Cherry Open Day

28 May 2024
303

Cherries are grown in several countries around the world, but their productivity is increasingly influenced by climate change due to the lack of cold for those cultivars that require many hours of refrigeration. “This has a negative impact on growers, but also on the market, as it results in uneven productivity,” says Antonia Sánchez-Labbé, international technical manager and R&D for cherries at BLOOM FRESH.

The company has selected varieties suitable for less cold regions, offering farmers an alternative crop, but this has also led to an expansion of cherry growing regions. 

“We have managed to expand cherry cultivation in Brazil, Western Australia, and Peru,” says Sánchez-Labbé. “This creates more favorable conditions for growers and retailers. Ultimately, consumers also benefit, as they continue to love cherries and consider them a special fruit.”

Early Window

In addition to expanding into different growing regions, BLOOM FRESH also focuses on an early harvest window. “The early window offers many opportunities to obtain cherries with a better flavor and a higher quality product, with excellent income opportunities for growers,” says Alwyn van Jaarsveld, international sales manager for cherries at BLOOM FRESH.

“If consumers have a positive first experience, they will return to repeat the purchase.” The company's goal is not to replace older, tender, and low-yield varieties but to provide cherries when there is no product on the market.

International Cherry Day

To showcase its portfolio of varieties to nurserymen, growers, and retailers, the company organized the International Cherry Open Day in Mequinenza fifteen days ago, the second event of its kind held in Spain. Additionally, the company has been organizing the Southern Hemisphere event in Chile every year for seven years. In Spain, 40 international participants from Chile, Brazil, Spain, Greece, Italy, United Kingdom, South Africa , and Australia gathered.

“The goal of the event was to show how we are intensifying our research and development activities and the continuous commercialization of our early and low-temperature cherry varieties,” says Sánchez-Labbé. The two-day program in Spain offered participants an unprecedented opportunity to learn more about the different varieties, including Cheery Crunch™, Cheery Chap™, Cheery Cupid™, Cheery Nebula™, Cheery Treat™, and Cheery Moon™.

The first four varieties can be grown in low-temperature areas, such as Northern Chile, Northern South Africa, and Southern California, as well as other non-traditional cherry regions. Cheery Treat™, on the other hand, requires more cold as hours pass but can still be grown in the United States states such as Washington, Oregon, and California, as well as in British Columbia (Canada).

This variety is also suitable for Spain, Greece, Italy, Tasmania, Argentina, and Chile, among others. Cheery Moon™ needs a lot of cold and grows in more traditional cherry-growing regions, such as British Columbia.

Source: FreshPlaza
Images: FreshPlaza


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

Preventing fruit spoilage through the combination of different approaches

Post-harvest​

12 Mar 2024

A study conducted in Spain evaluated the impact of the simultaneous application of MAP and two antagonistic yeasts on the shelf life of early “Burlat” cherries. The use of these yeasts induced changes in the quality of the fruit as an increase in the solids content was observed.

Copefrut promotes BoBan, the brand to conquer the Chinese market in the 2023-2024 season

Markets

22 Nov 2023

Fuenzalida points out that Boban is the Chinese name by which Copefrut has long been known in the Asian market. Leveraging this capital of knowledge and penetration, it will be the brand under which they will try to win the palate and recognition of Chinese consumers.

In evidenza

UNITEC and innovation: technological solutions for cherry sorting

Post-harvest​

04 Oct 2024

UNITEC technologies provide a decisive solution for the industry. Advanced systems like Cherry Vision 3.0 and 3.5 AI have revolutionized the way cherries are selected and sorted thanks to the use of artificial intelligence.

Uzbekistan: growing exports, over 30,000 tonnes to 16 countries

Markets

04 Oct 2024

The Statistics Agency highlighted that Russia was the top buyer, importing 25.4 thousand tons of cherries. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan took in 3.5 thousand tons, and Kyrgyzstan secured 2.7 thousand tons.

Tag Popolari