The peak of cherry production is taking place right now. This is good news, as the fruit is made up of 90% water and is therefore ideal for coping with hot weather. The harvest is expected to be abundant, but prices remain high because the fruit is picked by hand and is difficult to store.
Cherry growers expect to harvest more than 30,000 tonnes this year, around one third more than average. “Weather conditions have worked in our favour,” explains Mathilde Chambe, a fruit grower from Bessenay, near Lyon. “More often, we experience years with rain or hail. This year, there have been no adverse weather events.”
The cherry is the fruit with the shortest season: eleven months of work for just a few weeks of sales. Half of the harvest is consumed during the month of June. “Growers pick the cherries, which are sent to wholesalers in the evening and are already in stores the following day,” Mathilde Chambe explains. “Cherries cannot be stored. Apples store very well, but cherries do not.”
This partly explains why prices, often considered high by consumers, currently range between €5 and €8 per kilogram. The many production constraints also have an impact. “Cherries are picked by hand,” the fruit grower explains. “There are also harmful insects, and we no longer have access to insecticides, so we have to use systems to cover and protect the orchards. Our costs are rising dramatically.”
Unlike their European counterparts, French growers are not authorised to use acetamiprid, a powerful insecticide effective against Drosophila suzukii, which can cause serious damage to cherry orchards.
Source: Edouard Marguier, Franceinfo
Image source: Stefano Lugli
29 Aug 2025
A study on low-chill sweet cherry cultivars grown in southeastern China analyzes fruit quality, color and gene expression. Promising results show potential to enhance cherry traits in subtropical climates and improve future breeding strategies.
12 Mar 2026
Cherry bacterial canker caused by Pseudomonas syringae can severely damage orchards and reduce yields. Recent studies examine bacteriophages as a biocontrol strategy and highlight the role of bacterial antiviral defence systems in developing effective treatments.
04 Aug 2026
A study conducted in Skardu, Pakistan, shows that postharvest dipping of sweet cherries in 1% calcium chloride helps preserve firmness, color, aroma, and microbiological quality, reducing waste and extending shelf life through distribution and retail, with better quality.
04 Aug 2026
In Chile, a three-year study conducted in Curicó shows that low-density plastic covers increase cherry size, protect orchards from frost and hail, and improve fruit quality, profitability and the international competitiveness of growers across Maule and Asian markets.
