The Meda® series cherry varieties are owned by International Varieties Unlimited (IVU), a company established in 2010 from a joint venture between an American cherry breeding company, the Proprietary Fruit Varieties (CA USA) of the late Marvin Nies, one of the largest cherry breeders, and a group of Chilean cherry nurserymen and exporters.
"The intent of this agreement," Alejandro Navarro, president of IVU, tells Cherry Times®, "was to select, develop and market new cherry varieties of high quality (high size, hardness and sweetness) and with good post-harvest performance (processing, storage, shelf life). After a selective process lasting more than 10 years and conducted on a variety potential of 80 Californian cherry genotypes, IVU licensed, patented and marketed six new varieties under the Meda® trademark: Meda Rex® IVU-115*, Meda Fox® IVU-548*, Meda Tiger® IVU-524*, Meda Bull® IVU-104*, Meda Wolf® IVU-105* and Meda Taurus® IVU-533*."
The cultivation of the varieties of the Meda Cherry® line internationally is managed and controlled by IVU through cultivation contracts with minimum planting rights. The varieties of Grupo Meda have been authorised by eight Chilean exporters who have accepted a minimum planting right of 600 hectares in total: Garces Fruit, Copefrut, Frusan, Cerasus, Ranco Cherry, Childresh, LQ Fruits and Polar Fruit. In addition, IVU has agreements with McDougall & Son (250 ha) in the US, Manuel Raventós (100 ha) in Spain and a contract is in the process of being closed in South Africa (100 ha) and Italy.
17 Oct 2024
Experiments were conducted on sweet cherry flower buds using differential thermal analysis (DTA), a technique that monitors the release of heat due to ice melting. Researchers observed the formation of ice within the bud structure, identifying barriers that prevent its spread.
31 Jan 2025
The container, supplied by grower-exporter Subsole, reached Mumbai on January 22. According to a statement from IG International, sales have since increased, and Indian consumers have responded positively to the quality and taste of the premium cherries.
16 Oct 2026
Rain in Chile threatens cherry quality as harvest approaches. The article outlines strategies to prevent fruit cracking and manage Botrytis, covering protective biofilms, chloride applications, irrigation management and timely treatments during ripening and harvest.
16 Oct 2026
Ciliegia delle Colline Veronesi moves towards PGI status after a successful public hearing on its production rules. The area spans 54 municipalities, over 1,200 hectares and more than 2,300 farms. Next come national procedures and EU scrutiny to protect local producers.
