In Spain, cherries are entering a new phase of differentiation. SAT La Rinconada, an Aragonese company specialising in cherry production, has obtained the Epigen Healthy Bite Regenerative Agriculture certification for part of its orchards, introducing a product to the market that focuses on healthy sugars, aromatic profile and agronomic sustainability.
At first glance, nothing changes: the cherry certified by SAT La Rinconada looks like any other. The difference, however, lies in the internal composition of the fruit, particularly in the quality of its sugars.
The company has certified 48 hectares of cherry orchards out of a total of 110 hectares under the Epigen Healthy Bite model. It is the first Spanish company in the cherry sector to adopt this protocol.
According to Rubén Valero, director of the company, the goal is to achieve “the best natural expression of the cherry”, enhancing a higher content of sugars considered healthy.
The second distinguishing element of the certification concerns the nutritional and sensory profile. Certified cherries show a total amino acid content that is 22-25% higher, as well as a higher profile of organic acids, factors that directly affect flavour perception.
Another aspect highlighted is the antioxidant potential of the cherry certified under the Epigen Regenerative Agriculture protocol by Ceritplanet, a characteristic that, according to reports, is not taken into account in other cherries available worldwide.
In addition to the characteristics of the fruit, Valero also highlights the benefits observed in the field. The farms involved are said to have achieved a healthier vegetative state, with greener and fresher orchards, without increasing water consumption.
The regenerative agriculture protocol also acts on reducing the use of water and nutrients, two aspects that are increasingly central to modern cherry orchard management.
The first certified cherries have already reached SAT La Rinconada’s European customers, with a strong connection to the German market. This development opens up an interesting opportunity for enhancing the value of cherries not only as a premium fruit, but also as a product capable of combining flavour, territorial identity and agricultural practices that make more careful use of resources.
Text and image source: fyh.es/
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