Hungary's impressive cherry breeding programme recently celebrated its 70th anniversary. Started in the early post-war period by the late S. Brózik, one of the most prolific researchers and breeders in the world, the programme was continued by J. Apostol and, more recently, by Z. Békefi.
From the very beginning, the project was turned over to the Fruit Research Institute, then passed into the hands of NARIC - National Agricultural Research and Innovation Centre at the turn of the century and, from 2021, to the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Science in Budapest. All in all, more than 30 cherry varieties have been released.
In chronological order: the first clones (1, 3 and 45) from the selection of the local variety Germersdorfer (1980s); the varieties Margit, Linda, Katalin and Kavics (1990s); Aida, Anita, Axel, Carmen, Paulus, Petrus, Sandor, Tunde and Vera; Elvira (Edit), Magdolna, Kira, Pillangó (Papillon) and the new late selection 16/77 (2020s).
Read the full presented at Macfrut 2023 by Zsuzsanna Békefi, the current Hungarian project leader.
20 Nov 2023
More than 250 crosses have already been made, using a genetic collection of over 50 varieties of diverse origins. The best ones are then grafted onto Maxma Delbard® 14 Brokforest for a second evaluation. Today, more than 80 grafted selections will go into production in 2024/25.
18 Oct 2024
According to the Market Intelligence Department of ProChile, based on data from January to December 2023, Chilean fresh fruit shipments to India totaled 163 million dollars, representing about 3% of total global exports, equivalent to 5.791 billion dollars.
15 Jan 2026
2025 marks a significant turning point for the global cherry industry: declining Northern Hemisphere yields, booming South American exports, and emerging markets like India and China. Quality, logistics, innovation, and diversification drive competitiveness.
15 Jan 2026
China is investing in cherry production, turning what was once considered a luxury fruit into a key pillar of its agricultural strategy. Backed by strong local government support, provinces like Shandong and Yunnan are scaling up output and reducing import dependency.
