A single cherry of the Yamagata Benio variety, cultivated in the Yamagata prefecture in Japan, was sold at auction for 100,000 yen, equivalent to about 600 euros. The news was announced by local authorities, who specified that the fruit auctioned at the Ota market in Tokyo belongs to a new type of cherries, known for their impressive size and high quality.
This cherry, of category 5L, has a diameter between 34 and 37 millimeters and was presented in a refined box made of Paulownia wood, a precious material used for musical instruments and luxury finishes.
The grower responsible for this 100,000 yen cherry is Yoshimi Kanehira, a 76-year-old farmer from the city of Tendo, who was already the winner of the competition for the largest fruit in the prefecture last year.
Benio cherries, although having a sugar content comparable to that of other premium varieties, are distinguished by a lower acidity and firmer flesh, which extends their shelf life.
Additionally, the cherry trees are cultivated in a particular way, growing the trees in a Y shape to optimize sunlight exposure. The soil is enriched with natural fertilizers, including Moringa extract, known for its richness in essential nutrients and drought resistance, and Tamogi mushrooms, appreciated for their antioxidant properties and use in cosmetics.
27 Jun 2024
Professor Walter Masman concluded the Mundoagro Capacita course on 'Cherry tree management and physiology', focusing on what is currently happening with regard to the use of cover crops, fertilisation, irrigation and new cherry varieties.
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.
19 Mar 2026
Cherry breeding programs in Romania are developing early and late varieties with higher yields and improved resistance. These innovations extend harvest windows, enhance fruit quality, and support adaptation to climate change and evolving market demands.
19 Mar 2026
In Quillón, the Agroclima Corazón de Paloma project brings a mobile app, weather stations and agroclimatic models to help around 60 small cherry growers manage orchards, protect a heritage variety and respond more effectively to climate change impacts.
