Source: Stefano Lugli
The Arbiozome project, coordinated by the Pugère research station, was carried out over three consecutive years, from 2022 to 2024. It was based on the aggregation of experiments conducted at three sites, each monitored by a different partner, to assess the potential impact of biostimulants on tree crops. At the Tapy research station, four treatments were compared with a control treatment, all in cherry orchards but with a variable range of measurements.
In France, cherry production is strongly concentrated in three main agricultural regions: Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (36%), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (33%) and Occitanie (22%). National production is estimated at around 32,000 tonnes per year (source: Annual Agricultural Statistics). Vaucluse is the leading department for cherry production, accounting for around 25% of the national tonnage of cherries for fresh consumption.
French fruit production, and cherry cultivation in particular, is in sharp decline. In the south-east, the cultivated area has fallen by 10–30% in ten years (Agreste, 2011), due to pressure on land use (urbanisation, infrastructure) and declining farm profitability. In addition, the arrival of difficult-to-control pests, such as Drosophila suzukii, has strongly discouraged growers, contributing to the reduction in cultivated area from 15,000 hectares in 1989 to 8,000 hectares in 2020.
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07 Feb 2025
‘This is an expected phenomenon, due to oversupply,’ says Jorge González, agricultural economist at INIA. ’The increase in cultivated areas has generated a supply pressure that exceeds the capacity of demand, which leads to a fall in prices.
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In Puglia, a rare late frost has severely damaged the June cherry harvest, hitting the renowned Ferrovia variety. Despite a strong season start, the region now faces halved yields, rising prices, and fresh opportunities for both Italian and international competitors.
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In Romania, the first cherries of the season reach shelves at 80 to 100 RON/kg, while Portugal, Spain and Greece offer far more competitive prices. Consumers are waiting for June, when local cherries may increase supply and ease market pressure.
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A study on light-colored cherries in Konya, Turkey, analyzes energy efficiency, production inputs and greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the role of fertilizers, irrigation and renewable energy in building a more sustainable and competitive fruit sector.
