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
22 Jul 2024
In Chile, the industry has worked to standardise levels of firmness, and although there is no single number, it is clear to all of us that above 240 g/mm at harvest, the requirements are already being met. Obviously, the higher the value, the better.
04 Jan 2024
It was discovered that PavTCP1 and PavTCP3 homologues in Arabidopsis TCP proteins are crucial for light responses, and it is agreed that these genes may contribute significantly to the light responses of sweet cherries.
16 Dec 2025
Catalonia launches the release of Ganaspis kimorum, a parasitoid introduced to fight Drosophila suzukii, which causes severe damage to cherry trees. An innovative biocontrol strategy to reduce pesticide use and protect high-quality cherry production sustainably.
15 Dec 2025
Seaweed-based biostimulants help cherry trees produce more high-quality fruit, support growth and improve tolerance to environmental stress. The article outlines effective strategies to enhance cherry production during key stages of the growing cycle.
