The article-interview deals mainly with the problems related to the poscosecha (post-harvest) of cherries, particularly the Regina variety, in the context of the Chilean cherry industry.
The interviewee, Juan Pablo Zoffoli, an expert in poscosecha and academic at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, identifies the main problem with poscosecha as the 'internal pardeamiento' of Regina, which negatively affects the flavour and quality of the cherries. This is a critical problem because Regina is an important variety for Chilean cherry production.
Zoffoli explains that internal pardeamiento is due to the senescence of the fruit and its degree of ripeness at harvest time. Therefore, he emphasises the importance of managing fruit maturity during the growing process to avoid this problem. Furthermore, he talks about the problems related to the size of the cherry, emphasising that larger calibre cherries tend to resist mechanical damage better.
He also mentions the problem of 'piel de lagarto' (lizard skin), which affects the appearance of cherries without affecting their flavour or flesh, but can make the fruit less attractive to consumers.
Finally, Zoffoli discusses the challenges of climate change, pointing out that rain during the harvest season is particularly problematic as it can cause micro-fractures in the fruit that negatively affect the poscosecha. He proposes the use of plastic covers and fungicide treatments to mitigate the effects of rain.
In summary, the interview focuses on specific problems related to cherry poscosecha, such as browning and shriveling, and discusses the climatic challenges faced by the Chilean cherry industry.
Read the full article: RedagrÍcola
27 Jan 2025
“We got off to a great start in June and our early fruit was of excellent quality and helped drive promotions that led to consistent purchasing (through July and early August)", said B.J. Thurlby, president of Northwest Cherry Growers, in his recap of the 2024 season.
26 Aug 2025
All methods to determine the optimal harvest maturity of sweet cherries: color, weight, soluble solids, acidity, and taste. Combined physical and chemical approach with data from Turkey, Afghanistan, USA, and Denmark to maximize fruit quality and market value.
18 May 2026
Vignola PGI cherries begin the 2026 season with estimates of up to 50,000 quintals. Premium quality, rain protection systems and a new marketing campaign strengthen the brand’s positioning across mass retailers, specialist shops and Italian consumers until early July in Italy.
18 May 2026
El Ciruelo strengthens its cherry strategy with own production, focusing on suitable areas such as Cancarix, precise agronomic management and varieties suited to a short market window, where climate, quality, seasonality and consumer value are decisive.
