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
28 Jun 2024
Granitic soil, filtering sandstone, cherry trees planted on elevated slopes: it is this terroir that differentiates the Burlat cherry seen on all French markets. The Burlat cherry preserves its freshness more easily, which makes it possible to extend the harvest period.
01 May 2023
Sweet cherry growers around the world are increasingly adopting trellised training systems that create a narrow, contiguous, planar “fruiting wall” canopy architecture. The benefits of such a radically redesigned orchard are significant.
12 Jun 2026
The Government of Aragón supports the Cereza de Calatayud y del Aranda PGI, covering around 1,500 hectares and about one hundred agricultural operators. Documents must be ready by 30 July, while the European recognition process could take up to two years for its approval.
12 Jun 2026
Viveros Ebro outlines its 2026 cherry strategy in Ribera d’Ebre, Spain, with Nipama, SPC-108, Royal Apache and SMS-416. High yields, large fruit size, low chill requirements, postharvest quality and full-cycle technical support shape the new season with climate resilience.
