Alejandro Navarro Diaz, general manager of IVU - International Varieties Unlimited LLCA presented the new cherry varieties marketed under the MEDA® brand at Macfrut 2023.
"Our origin," says Navarro, "goes back more than 50 years when Marvin Nies, a Californian who has dedicated his entire life to creating new cherry varieties, started selecting material essentially from Bing to exploit its benefits and produce earlier varieties. His experimental orchard in California was a marvel: it was 80 acres and each tree was practically a different variety.
Since 2009, having reached an agreement with Marvin, Navarro and his research team have started breeding work on a number of varieties he has produced during his lifetime. "They are the fruits," Navarro continues, "of fruitful cross-breeding work on cherry trees, a passion that has moved Marvin throughout his life and which has resulted in the work that International Varieties Unlimited (IVU) has developed together with his family and a group of leading companies in the production and marketing of cherries worldwide.
The ability and joint work of everyone has helped to achieve valuable results. "Our selection of MEDA® varieties," Navarro concludes, "is bearing fruit and will continue to do so in the future, as Marvin has left us a great legacy to select and develop in different parts of the world."
Below, exclusively for Cherry Times, is the IVU report presented at Macfrut 2023.
07 Mar 2025
"There are other factors besides the hours of cold weather," said Gardner, owner of Zaiger Genetics in Modesto, California, known for breeding early varieties of stone fruit, sweet cherries and apples.
04 Jun 2024
‘It is crucial to implement water management measures and promote sustainable practices to ensure long-term sustainability,’ says Víctor Muñoz, ‘actions that will strengthen water security and agricultural productivity and solid support for economic development.
06 Apr 2026
In Spain’s Ebro Valley, early cherry harvest will start on April 15. Covered crops show resilience despite unstable weather, while uncertainty remains for mid and late varieties due to rain and wind during flowering.
06 Apr 2026
The new Cheery Glow cherry developed in Chile combines early harvest, high quality and low chill requirements. Earlier than Santina and with strong postharvest performance, it opens new commercial opportunities and supports market diversification worldwide.
