Farewell to Andrea Bernardi, leader of Vignola cherries and icon of Emilia-Romagna

He passed away at 64, after a long illness, Andrea Bernardi, soul and leader of the Vignola cherry. President of the Consortium for Vignola cherries, plums, and typical fruits, as well as the Vignola PGI Cherry Consortium, he dedicated his life to industrial fruit growing and cherry farming, with balance and passion, becoming a point of reference for producers, institutions, and the territory.

The condolences of Alessio Mammi

“With the passing of Andrea Bernardi we lose a capable and passionate person, who dedicated every effort to the sector and the entire cherry supply chain. He was a point of reference for producers, a serious and attentive interlocutor, with whom I shared a relationship of great esteem and collaboration.”

Thus regional Agriculture Councillor Alessio Mammi remembers Andrea Bernardi, president of the Vignola PGI Cherry Consortium, who passed away yesterday after a long illness.

“With him and with the Consortium – continues the Councillor – the Region carried out an important project of mechanical defense experimentation in cherry orchards, at the experimental field in Vignola, an experience that testifies to the common will to innovate and support the sector’s quality. Andrea also played a fundamental role in the promotion and valorization of our cherry, a product of identity that represents excellence recognized in Italy and abroad.

His passing leaves a great void, both on a human and professional level – concludes Mammi. On behalf of myself and the entire regional community, I extend my deepest condolences to his family and to all those who worked alongside him over the years.”

The Vignola PGI Cherry Consortium in mourning

Deep condolences unite the entire agri-food sector of the territory, starting with those who spent many years, professionally, in close contact with Bernardi. “He was an extremely balanced person,” says Walter Monari, director of the Consortium. “He undertook important battles for producers, always working with great dedication and professionalism, building networks with traders and local producers.

He always gave of himself personally for the good of the cherry and the entire supply chain.” Bernardi worked from the 1990s in the Modenese Fruit Drying Cooperative, then about 20 years ago took the lead of the “Vignola Cherry and Plum” Consortium, before the cherry obtained PGI status, with the new consortium led by Bernardi in the last 3 years. “I can say that I have lost a great friend, even before a colleague. We hope the legacy of the Consortium will be carried on with the same dedication that Andrea put into it,” concludes Monari.

The condolences of local institutions

Vignola Mayor Emilia Muratori also remembers Bernardi: “On behalf of the Vignola Administration and personally, I express deep condolences for the passing of Andrea Bernardi. Over the years, we worked very well with him. He was a competent, available, honest, and sincere person. Meetings with him were always constructive. We worked effectively to best promote the Vignola cherry.

I recall Macfrut 2022, dedicated to cherries, with the press conference we held, a real novelty even for the fair organizers, in the Basse experimental field. He filled his role as Consortium president with passion, skill, and preparation. I also want to remember him not only for his institutional role but also as a friend who helped me better understand the world of cherry production. He will leave a void in our countryside, as well as in all of us. Condolences to his wife Maria Rosa and their three children,” concludes Muratori.

“On behalf of the Municipality of Spilamberto and personally, I wish to express deep condolences for the passing of Andrea Bernardi, president of the Vignola PGI Cherry Consortium. With him we had the opportunity to work on various fronts, particularly for the valorization of typical products and the protection of our agri-food excellences, elements that represent the most authentic identity of our territory. Andrea always demonstrated great competence, passion, and availability, characteristics that made every meeting with him constructive and stimulating.” These are the words of Spilamberto Mayor Massimo Glielmi.

The remembrance of Stefano Lugli

“I had known Andrea for a long time. We shared a dual relationship, of friendship and professionalism, built over the years on solid foundations of mutual respect and esteem. With him as President, the value and role of the Vignola Cherry Consortium significantly grew, evolving on various fronts.

Although small, the consortium he presided over became a virtuous example and a point of reference in the regional and national fruit-growing sector.

Andrea gave to the Vignola community not only his free time but, above all, his entrepreneurial and managerial experience gained over the years as Director of the Modenese Fruit Drying Cooperative.

Not by chance, precisely in those two decades with him at the helm of the Consortium, the Vignola cherry obtained the important PGI recognition and, thanks to the collaboration with the University of Bologna, four international conferences dedicated to red fruits were organized, three of them held in Vignola (2011, 2015, 2019) and the last (2022) at the prestigious Macfrut Rimini Expo, where Bernardi participated as a speaker alongside the main global players in the cherry supply chain.

Also of importance were the fruitful collaborations with various scientific institutions of the territory and the many research projects launched and still ongoing at the experimental field managed by the local Vignola consortium. Thank you Andrea, rest in peace in the paradise of cherries.”

News sources and images: Cherry Times, Fruitbook Magazine, Italiafruit, Gazzetta di Modena, Il Resto del Carlino, Myfruit, Emilia Romagna Region.

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