The Apulian cherry sector is today in a clearly vulnerable position, characterised by a delay in varietal innovation and the presence of antiquated plants, whose product often does not fully reflect the needs of the current market.
The recent National Conference on the cherry tree in Sammichele di Bari highlighted the criticalities of the local cherry sector, while recognising the competitive potential of the area's cherries, capable of competing with more advanced markets such as that of Vignola, despite a significantly smaller cultivated surface.
The event marked a turning point for the entire supply chain, offering an opportunity for reflection and comparison between the various actors involved. Mayor Lorenzo Netti emphasised the strategic importance of the cherry as a symbol of the territory, not only economically but also culturally. This initiative, held in April in view of the next harvest, provided a space to evaluate the future path of the supply chain.
During the conference, several crucial issues emerged. Luca Fortunato highlighted the urgent need for varietal innovation, emphasising that it is no longer a choice, but an unavoidable necessity. He also mentioned varietal standardisation as a tool to ensure better product identification on the market.
At the same time, new cultivation strategies were discussed, including the use of covers to meet the challenges of climate change and ensure consistent product quality. Stefano Borraci emphasised the importance of investments in these technologies, while Massimiliano Del Core highlighted the importance of aggregation among producers to successfully face future challenges.
Donato Di Palma reiterated the importance of preserving the distinctive characteristics of native varieties to remain competitive in the markets, citing the Ferrovia variety as an example.
Finally, the debate also involved the political sphere, with Francesco Paolicelli announcing measures to incentivise varietal innovation and the use of covers in cherry cultivation, with the aim of increasing disease resistance and improving productivity. In summary, the conference was an important opportunity to outline the future of the cherry sector, focusing on varietal innovation, new cultivation strategies and the political support needed to meet the challenges of the sector.
Source: FoglieTv
Image: BariLive.it
04 Mar 2024
Despite a slight 1% drop in shipments compared to the previous year, over 413,000 tonnes of cherries were shipped worldwide. The Far East was confirmed as the main destination, with China taking 97% of the total.
18 Dec 2023
Argentinean cherry exports totalled 1,535 tonnes, a drop of 36 per cent compared to last year. Aníbal Caminiti claims that exportable volumes will recover as the harvest progresses and emphasised the quality of this season.
21 Nov 2024
A Chinese study analyzed the effects of five different rootstocks on Summit sweet cherry cultivar during the fruit veraison phase with or without nitrogen-free nutrient fertilizers. The five rootstocks tested were: Mahaleb, Gisela 5, and three hybrid selections H11, H17, and H22.
21 Nov 2024
Given its direct influence on other indices such as flavor and firmness, this time we will analyze color, from the perspective of homogenization in the final product, the high percentage of light-colored fruit, and the high percentage of dark-colored fruit.
