Dutch cherries are back in the spotlight with a season that promises large, juicy and high-quality fruits. So says Aart Blom from FruitPartners Holland, where the harvest has just begun with some important varietal innovations.
The company has replaced two hectares of Burlat cherry trees with the Sweet Aryana and Sweet Lorenz varieties, considered more efficient in both quality and yield. "Growing conditions have been excellent, and we expect large-sized fruit," says Blom, highlighting how the early varieties are showing particularly positive results.
Not everything is going smoothly, though. The Kordia and Regina varieties are showing uneven production, partly due to the loss of many trees last year from water damage. "We estimate an average yield of about 70%," explains Blom.
The fruit will be destined for supermarkets, wholesalers, and specialty stores, while the self-picking season at the company’s Wadenoijen location will resume this weekend, as popular as ever.
The European context is favorable for Dutch cherries. Frosts in Turkey and Greece and recent rain in Spain have reduced supply and pushed prices higher.
"Volumes are still limited in the Netherlands, but in a few weeks we'll reach full capacity. We’ll start with high prices due to the lack of competition," the grower points out.
In recent years, cherry cultivation area in the Netherlands has not increased. "It’s a short and costly crop. Existing growers continue to invest, but new plantings are rare.
Covering orchards has become essential, but protective structures are increasingly expensive. Glass greenhouses deliver excellent results but require significant investments for a single annual harvest."
According to Blom, the market rewards those who focus on quality: "Supermarkets that offer premium cherries sell them, even at eight or ten euros per kilo. Consumers appreciate them and come back.
You can also offer lower-quality fruit at half the price, but in the long run, it's a losing strategy."
With more resilient varieties, targeted commercial strategies, and an evolving European market, the Dutch cherry sector is preparing to face the season with renewed confidence.
If the weather holds, 2025 could turn out to be a very good year for Dutch cherries.
Source: freshplaza.com
Image source: SL Fruit Service
19 Jul 2024
The study used the stable isotope of calcium (44Ca) to distinguish between different sources and to understand its absorption and distribution during the various phenological stages of fruit development, in this case on the cultivar ‘Lapins’ grafted on ‘Colt’.
25 Jun 2024
The health and effectiveness of honey bees during pollination were examined in the study conducted in Tasmania, Australia, using bird nets and polyethylene rain covers. Bees were fitted with RFID identification systems and were tagged during two consecutive seasons.
11 Sep 2025
Effective cherry fruit load regulation in Chile and Peru through strategic pruning, thinning, nutrition, and irrigation. Improve fruit size, sugar content, and harvest uniformity while ensuring sustainable yields and orchard performance in competitive export-driven markets.
11 Sep 2025
Uno studio sull’altopiano del Loess (Cina) analizza come età del frutteto e varietà del ciliegio dolce influiscano sulla qualità del suolo, evidenziando l’importanza della stabilità degli aggregati e della sostanza organica per coltivazioni più sostenibili e produttive.
