Davide Nari, Valentina Roera
Agrion – Foundation for Research, Innovation and Technological Development of Piedmontese Agriculture
The cherry tree is undergoing a period of major innovation across all components of its production process.
A true revolution in planting systems is underway; new varieties are increasingly being adopted, characterized by large size, sweet flesh, low acidity, and high firmness.
In addition, new materials are being developed that significantly extend the harvesting calendar by 15–20 days compared to current reference cultivars.
New low-vigor rootstocks are spreading, enabling the development of new training systems in wall form and, consequently, the adoption of new management techniques, including the use of precision machinery.
According to the European Union: Stone Fruit Annual report by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) – USDA, the European cherry orchard area covers 165,000 hectares, with an upward trend over the last four years (figure 1).
The leading cherry-producing country is Poland, which produced approximately 200,000 tons in the 2023/24 season, followed by Spain with 110,000, Greece with 70,000, and Italy with 50,000 tons.
[...]
Want to know more? The full article is reserved for subscribers to the Cherry Times newsletter! Sign up for free to receive each new exclusive in-depth article directly in your inbox and stay up-to-date with quality advice and analysis. Don't miss this unique opportunity!
Sign up for free to the Cherry Times newsletter
25 Feb 2025
Researchers have explored alternative preservation technologies, such as high-voltage electrostatic field treatment, which has recently attracted attention for its potential in extending the shelf life of fruit.
22 Nov 2024
A recent study from Portugal and Denmark focused on the effects of two biostimulants: glycine betaine and an extract derived from the seaweed Ecklonia maxima. These biostimulants were applied to sweet cherry cultivars “Early Bigi” and “Lapins” grafted onto SL-64 rootstock.
23 Sep 2025
Retractable roof systems like AutoDry™ are being tested in Canada and Australia to protect orchards—especially cherries—from rain and heat. These solutions aim to boost fruit quality, yields, and profits, helping growers recover from years of climate-related losses.
23 Sep 2025
Advanced tree training techniques in narrow orchard systems: shoot removal, horizontal cordons and vertical leaders for cherry, plum, apple, pear and nectarine. The NOS project operates in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and NSW with multiple trial sites.
