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The agreement on the Staccato variety brings new investment for the development of cherry cultivation in Canada

Varieties

18 Sep 2026

Canada and the US settle the dispute over Staccato® cherries. Monson Fruit Company will pay past and future royalties, stop propagating new Staccato® trees through 2029 and refrain from exporting fruit outside the US through 2032, ending a six-year long legal battle.

Covered cherry cultivation: a handbook on the establishment and management of cherry orchards

Covers

18 Sep 2026

Centro Fruticultura Sur will host a seminar in Chillán, Chile, on protected fruit cultivation, featuring two new publications on covered cherry production and European hazelnut physiology and management, with tools to address climate variability in modern orchards.

The Chinese market is opening up to South African cherries

Markets

17 Sep 2026

The new protocol opens China to South African cherries from the 2026/27 season. With 819 hectares planted, rising exports and a 2-3 week window before Chilean peak volumes, South Africa is targeting zero-tariff access, new investment and a stronger presence across Asia.

The cherry harvest in the north-west of the United States was lower than forecast

Production

17 Sep 2026

In 2026, cherry production in the Yakima Valley and the U.S. Northwest is heading toward 17 million boxes. Lower volumes, firmer prices and solid demand support growers, while Rainier cherries face losses from spring frost, wind and rain. The market remains resilient.

Significant investment to revive the cultivation of Croatian marasca cherries

Specialties

16 Sep 2026

Zadar County is preparing a €250,000 programme to expand Marasca cherry orchards in Dalmatia, supporting new plantings, irrigation and soil preparation, with funding distributed through towns and municipalities between 2027 and 2029 to support local growers in Dalmatia.

Wild cherry tree rings tell the story of climate

Tech management

16 Sep 2026

A study in Western Poland examines how wild cherry (Prunus avium) responds to temperature and rainfall. Tree-ring growth highlights the species’ potential for dendrochronology, dendroclimatology and climate research, while showing marked differences among local sites.

Australian cherry volumes are expected to fall by 15%

Production

15 Sep 2026

Australian cherry production is forecast to fall 15% in 2026/27, to 17,000 metric tons after a winter with fewer chill hours. Exports are expected at 4,000 MT, while dry conditions and high irrigation costs could add pressure for growers in Victoria and New South Wales.

A laboratory leaf disc assay to predict sweet cherry susceptibility to bacterial canker

Crop protection

15 Sep 2026

A three-year survey of 222 orchards in O’Higgins, Chile, validates a rapid Leaf Disc Assay to identify sweet cherry cultivars with lower susceptibility to bacterial canker caused by Pseudomonas syringae, supporting faster and more sustainable breeding decisions today.

A new discovery from the University of Chile for controlling grey mould in cherries

Crop protection

15 Sep 2026

University of Chile researchers identified a Streptomyces strain from the Atacama Desert and Trench able to inhibit Botrytis cinerea. The FONDEF project with AgroFresh is now moving into direct fruit trials and edible postharvest coatings for fresh Chile export produce.

Jerte Valley: biotechnology driving innovation in cherry varieties

Breeding

14 Sep 2026

In Spain’s Jerte Valley, genomic selection is speeding up cherry breeding: Cicytex and Agrupación de Cooperativas Valle del Jerte will work through 2030 on 1,000 trees and around 110 varieties to identify fruit quality, ripening and market suitability earlier using DNA.