RipeLocker announced “significant progress” in its collaboration with Gebbers Farms and Chelan Fresh, improving long-term storage and delivery of cherries for the 2024 season.
The group, which offers low-pressure chambers designed to extend freshness, stated that after six years of testing, it has overcome the challenges associated with cherry preservation, optimizing harvest timing and storage techniques. It confirmed that cherries harvested in mid-July were delivered in mid-August to a major national retailer, where they passed the quality check without exceptions.
“Lowering acidity levels, browning, and brown stems make long-term cherry preservation difficult,” said George Lobisser, CEO and co-founder of RipeLocker. “After six years of trials, we have finally found the right techniques.”
“The credit goes to the collaboration between Johnny Gebbers of Gebbers Farms and our Director of Horticultural Sciences, Brendon Anthony, PhD,” he explained. “They worked closely to review RipeLocker’s harvesting practices and protocols to successfully preserve cherries.”
In addition to the cherries delivered in mid-August, some RipeLockers were used to preserve cherries until mid-September, coinciding with the Chinese Moon Festival. “These cherries would have easily passed the quality check by our recipients,” said Tom Riggan, CEO of Chelan Fresh. “The Chinese market would have particularly appreciated the green stems.”
RipeLocker expressed excitement for the upcoming season, in which the national retailer intends to expand on this year's achievements, but with more varieties. The technology has already proven effective for other perishable products, including blueberries, the company noted, and is now seen as a “game changer for cherry preservation.”
“Another opportunity we see is for growers to harvest before climatic events such as excessive heat and to store before demand,” Lobisser added. “This innovation not only extends the cherry season but also increases market opportunities for growers, packers, shippers, and retailers.”
Source: Asiafruit
Image: RipeLocker
16 Jun 2026
In 2026, CTIFL, Inrae and private partners are testing new solutions in France against Drosophila suzukii in cherries and berries: attract-and-kill baits, Ganaspis kimorum, sterile males and TIS-TII with Wolbachia to reduce losses, chemical inputs and farm costs overall.
26 Mar 2025
The US Court reinstated the Staccato cherry patent, overturning the previous decision. AAFC will now be able to defend its rights against the unauthorised sale of the 'Glory' variety. A key victory for intellectual property protection in the global fruit industry.
20 Jul 2026
A WSU study shows how heatwaves, low temperatures during bloom and environmental stress affect firmness, stems, pitting and postharvest cherry quality in Washington State, with different responses across Rainier, Bing, Skeena and Sweetheart cultivars in hot seasons.
20 Jul 2026
A study by Miguel Hernández University in Elche shows that natural treatments with putrescine and spermidine can raise sweet cherry yields in Spain by up to 40%, reduce rain-induced cracking, and improve fruit firmness, color, flavor and overall market quality too.
