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The competitiveness of cherries on international markets will increasingly depend on the efficiency of refrigerated logistics

Post-harvest​

01 Oct 2026

Chile’s 2026/27 cherry season is projected at 132 million boxes. With volumes rising and China still the key market, refrigerated transport, cold chain management, traceability and advance logistics planning will be crucial to protect quality, timing and profitability.

Delaying flowering to minimise damage from late frosts to cherry blossoms

Tech management

01 Oct 2026

A new study shows that ethephon can delay flowering in Kordia sweet cherries, potentially reducing the risk of damage from late spring frosts. The effect varies by cultivar, dose and timing, and further multi-year field trials are needed before practical recommendations.

Despite a difficult season, the company that produces the USA’s favourite cherry snack is thriving with its Rainier variety

Processed

01 Oct 2026

In Washington State, Chukar Cherries closes a season marked by frost and rain with 285 tons of cherries processed. The statewide crop falls 16%, while investments in technology and new processing lines help the company support local growers and manage shorter harvests.

Malic acid promotes fruit cracking in cherry trees

Tech management

30 Sep 2026

A study from Hannover sheds new light on sweet cherry cracking: malic acid in cherry juice can trigger rapid skin splitting even with limited water uptake, linking the bursting of epidermal cells to the development of visible cracks across the fruit skin in orchards.

A precision pollination project is being launched to speed up genetic selection and boost the productivity of cherry orchards

Tech management

30 Sep 2026

A new UK project will use bioacoustic sensors, AI and field trials to measure pollinator activity, improve fruit set, yield and quality, and support more resilient production of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and cherries across commercial farms.

Following its most challenging season ever, the Chilean cherry industry is aiming to regain its former glory

Markets

29 Sep 2026

After a difficult season, Chile aims to relaunch its cherries in China through higher quality, reputation management and new commercial strategies. The industry is also looking to India and the United States, while rebuilding consumer trust remains the main priority.

Varieties with lower chilling requirements are expanding the potential for Peruvian cherry production

Varieties

29 Sep 2026

Peru is assessing the potential for cherry production in high-altitude Andean areas, where climate, low-chill varieties and improved logistics could support the first commercial harvests and pave the way for future exports to high-value Asian markets such as China.

Maule: ozonized grape seed bioinput targets gray mold in postharvest cherries

Crop protection

29 Sep 2026

In Maule, Universidad Autónoma de Chile is developing an ozonized grape seed oil bioinput to control Botrytis cinerea in cherries, reduce gray mold losses after harvest, and add value to wine industry by-products through a circular economy approach in postharvest storage.

Contracts, advance payments and trust: legal lessons learnt from a multi-million dispute in the cherry sector

Tech management

28 Sep 2026

In Chile, attention is growing around contractual risks in the cherry industry. Lawyer Álvaro Jofré examines advances, guarantees, due diligence, penalties and foreign investment, outlining safeguards that can reduce disputes, financial losses and legal exposure abroad.

Corette: the new range of rootstocks for intensive cherry orchards

Rootstocks

28 Sep 2026

The Corette® series introduces low-vigor cherry rootstocks for high-density orchards. Trials in Spain, Italy and across Europe are assessing yield, adaptation to calcareous soils, protected cultivation, lower winter chilling requirements and mechanization strategies.