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.
15 Oct 2024
Cherry Growers Australia, an association that gathers Australian producers from all six cherry-growing areas of the country, organized a webinar to discuss the season, as Queensland, New South Wales, and Australia in October, and soon after, Victoria, prepare to harvest.
20 Mar 2024
"We expect to harvest 1,000 tonnes in 2026," says Yigit Gokyigit, sales coordinator, "our annual harvest will increase to 1,800 tonnes by 2029. We expect larger sizes, such as 26+ and 28+, from our orchards."
28 Oct 2025
Argentina’s 2025/26 cherry season begins with mixed signals. Capci warns of early fruit drop affecting export volumes. Despite good fruit quality, unstable weather and production issues may impact international shipments, pushing forecasts toward stability or slight decline.
28 Oct 2025
A new micropropagation protocol for Gisela 17 rootstock was developed in Aurangabad, India. The study achieved excellent results in asepsis, rooting and shoot proliferation, paving the way for healthy cherry stock production and modern nursery propagation techniques.
