An excellent year for the Spanish Protected Designation of Origin, driven by fruit quality and new varieties that extend the season on the market.
The 2025 campaign of the Protected Designation of Origin (P.D.O.) Cereza del Jerte ended with a very positive result: 1,300,000 kilograms of certified cherries, of which as many as one million were picota, the symbolic fruit of this region in Extremadura. This was announced by the president of the Regulatory Council, José Antonio Tierno, who highlighted how, unlike the previous season, weather conditions were favorable, allowing a smooth harvest with no damage to the product.
“This year the climate played in our favor. We did not suffer significant losses and the campaign ran smoothly, with very encouraging results,” said Tierno.
The performance of picota — an indigenous, stemless variety — was particularly outstanding, with numbers clearly rising compared to 2024. “The overall result is very satisfactory, with the picota playing the leading role,” added the president.
What also made the difference was the quality of the certified fruit, selected through a strict control process that guarantees consumers only the best of the harvest. Sensory traits — sweetness, intense flavor, and crisp texture — once again confirmed the excellence of Jerte production. The only minor drawback: a slight reduction in fruit size, caused by unusually high temperatures during the season.
Among the most significant novelties of the 2025 campaign was the introduction of new certified cherry varieties — Burlat, Van, and Lapins — the result of an update to the production standards requested by the P.D.O. after more than thirty years. A strategic move to counter the decline in volumes recorded in recent seasons.
“This is only the first step in a transition phase, but already this year we have seen concrete benefits. The new varieties made it possible to extend the availability period on the market, thereby increasing the visibility of our Designation,” explained Tierno.
Among them, the Lapins variety had a remarkable impact, accounting for between 30% and 40% of total certified cherry production.
Another distinctive feature of the 2025 campaign was the simultaneous presence on the market of late-season cherries and the four picota varieties recognized by the P.D.O.: Ambrunés, Pico Negro, Pico Limón, and Pico Colorado. This coincidence gave consumers the perfect opportunity to experience the differences between cherries and picota in terms of taste, texture, and visual characteristics.
“It was an important opportunity to enhance the identity of our fruits and offer variety and choice to consumers,” concluded the president.
With results exceeding the previous year, confirmed quality, and an expanding varietal offer, the P.D.O. Cereza del Jerte closes the 2025 campaign looking to the future with optimism and new growth prospects.
Source text and image: agrobankhub.es
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