In 2024, cherry production faced numerous challenges due to climate conditions, that affected both the amount and the quality of the harvest. Late frosts, heavy rains, and other weather-related events put significant pressure on growers, drastically reducing production in some cases. Despite these challenges, the demand for cherries remained high, with prices rising especially for premium-quality fruit.
In this complex scenario, UNITEC technologies have provided 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, these technologies allow to detect external defects with extreme precision, such as imperfections in the skin or variations in color and shape, ensuring that only high-quality fruit is delivered to the market.
Additionally, with the use of cutting-edge sensors, UNITEC’s sorting systems can also analyze the internal parameters of cherries, thus maximizing the value of every single fruit. Indeed, with UNIQ Cherry, it is possible to detect ripeness and firmness, further enhancing the effectiveness of the sorting process.
These innovative solutions enable fruit packing houses to significantly boost operational margins, drastically reduce labor costs, and entering new markets by offering consistent quality to their Customers—a key factor in building trust between the parties.
Thanks to these advanced technologies, all developed in-house by UNITEC’s R&D department at their headquarters in Italy, producers are better equipped to handle climate challenges while maintaining a high level of competitiveness. They can bring guaranteed quality cherries to market, even under adverse weather conditions.
23 May 2024
Fungicides like Serenade Aso produce a series of natural compounds with specific activities on pathogens and plant defense. Lipopeptides and antibacterial compounds typical of the strain break down cell walls of fungi and bacteria, causing death and preventing contamination.
04 Dec 2024
The president of the Protected Designation of Origin Cherry of Jerte, José Antonio Tierno, lamented the loss of 40% of the season for cherries, which are harvested earlier, and 70% of picota, which matures later. This translates into economic losses exceeding 15 million euros.
27 Feb 2026
The U.S. tart cherry industry unveils True Tart™, a certification mark highlighting authentic U.S.-grown Montmorency cherries. The goal is to stand out from imports, boost grower returns and strengthen demand through marketing, research and targeted communication.
27 Feb 2026
CITA conducted a field trial in Aragon, Spain, evaluating assisted cherry pollination using external pollen supplied by Zimex. The study assessed fruit set, pollen vitality and fertility in Albalate de Cinca highlighting yield performance, fruit quality and cold chain management.
