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
19 Feb 2025
The recent breakdown of the Maersk Saltoro ship, carrying 1,363 containers (around 5 million crates) of Chilean cherries to China, highlighted the vulnerability of the fruit industry. The delay of its arrival was particularly critical for the distribution of fruit in China.
26 Jul 2024
The ‘Cherry Production Handbook’ is an essential technical material that will facilitate the tasks of producers in the fields, in terms of varieties and rootstocks, main planting systems and management, among other topics.
06 Oct 2025
In 2025, Germany’s sour cherry harvest rose to 9,800 tons, a 31.3% increase over the weak 2024 season. Yet the cultivated area shrank to 1,500 hectares, 25% less than a decade ago, highlighting challenges and casting doubts on the long-term future of sour cherry farming.
06 Oct 2025
Issue 155 of Redagrícola explores the future of Chilean cherries with expert interviews, crop management strategies, postharvest techniques, and a strong focus on quality—key factors to stay competitive in global markets and face the upcoming challenges of the industry.
