New life for cherries: the Circ0lare! project

19 May 2023
981

Prof.ssa Giovanna Giacalone
Disafa – University of Turin (IT)

Galucio, Graffione bianco e Vittona, varietà tradizionali coltivate nell’areale piemontese di Pecetto

Galucio, Graffione bianco and Vittona, some of the traditional varieties cultivated in the Piedmont area of Pecetto


The project, financed by the Piedmont Region (Italy) in the framework of the 2014-2020* RDP, was created with different objectives: on the one hand to quantify and characterise the cherries of a traditional production area in the hills of Turin and on the other to find an outlet for the by-products of the processing industry and the product that cannot be placed on the fresh market.

The premises are that the production reality of Pecetto Torinese, while still recalling in the consumer's imagination an idea of tradition and quality, has nevertheless seen, despite some important exceptions, a progressive shrinking of the dedicated areas. The production reality, based mainly on traditional cultivation systems, has lost many operators and is in need of a substantial relaunch. 

The project therefore moves on different levels. The first is to quantify in terms of areas and production the 'Pecetto cherries', for which there is a production specification. The second is to characterise from a biochemical and nutritional point of view the productions falling within the area covered by the specification.

Contenuto in polifenoli (mg GAE/100g pf) e antociani totali (mg cyan/100g pf) in alcune cultivar coltivate nell’areale di Pecetto Torinese (TO)

Polyphenol content (mg GAE/100g pf) and total anthocyanins (mg cyan/100g pf) in some cultivars grown in the Pecetto Torinese (TO) area


Finally, the third aspect, which is the most ambitious, is to hypothesise a reuse of all that constitutes waste from both the fresh supply chain and the processing into juices and jams. 


It is well known that cherries are rich in polyphenolic substances, anthocyanic and otherwise, and interest in these components is growing in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food sectors. The idea therefore is to sustainably extract from the waste, extracts rich in bioactive components for subsequent 'noble' reuse.

The pilot project sees the collaboration of several partners: the leader is the Agricoopecetto cooperative, which has involved a number of producers and Disafa - University of Turin. The University has developed a protocol for the extraction of bioactive substances from waste matrices (pulp and stalks) by means of MAE (microwave assisted extraction) technology using green solvents (NADES).

Contenuto in polifenoli (mg mg GAE/100g ps) e antociani totali (mg cyan/100 g ps) nell’estratto ottenuto da polpa di ciliegie con differenti solventi

Contenuto in polifenoli (mg mg GAE/100g ps) e antociani totali (mg cyan/100 g ps) nell’estratto ottenuto da polpa di ciliegie con differenti solventi


That is, aqueous solutions of organic acids, sugars and amino acids in different proportions are used as solvents. By working on extraction temperatures and times, polyphenol-rich extracts are obtained ready for use, as there are no traces of solvent to be removed. 

A pharmaceutical-cosmetic laboratory was then involved in the project and designed a line of products (creams and sunscreens) that exploit the antioxidant capacity of the extracts. Finally, the stones, suitably treated and ground, constitute microgranules inserted in different lines of scrubs.

Procedimento di estrazione da by-products di ciliegie

Extraction process from cherry by-products



Impiego di noccioli stabilizzati e macinati a differenti granulometrie per diverse tipologie di scrubs

Stabilised and ground kernels in different grain sizes for different types of scrubs


The first results of the project were, on the one hand, a snapshot of the cherry sector of a small area with a great tradition behind it but the need for a relaunch, and on the other hand, the opening up of new possibilities of use not with a view to absorbing all the waste, but rather with a view to creating virtuous cycles to maintain the link with the territory.

Pecetto cherries, both traditional and commercial cultivars, have shown a very high content of nutraceutical substances, demonstrating once again how the cultivation area has a significant influence on product quality. 

The extraction protocol developed was aimed at exploring new methods with innovative systems and the extracts obtained proved to be extremely rich in bioactives with values comparable or higher than those obtained with traditional solvents. 

The line of cosmetic products, which has been realised, is at an advanced testing stage and it is expected that at the end of the project we will have a complete line of potentially reproducible and marketable products.


Cherry Times - Tutti i diritti riservati

What to read next

U.S. cherry prices in China rise thanks to sea shipments after a slow start of the season

Press review

17 Aug 2023

Imported U.S. cherries always occupy a prominent position on the shelves of Chinese supermarkets during the summer. However, the beginning of the 2023 season has seen markedly lower prices than in previous years.

Development of foliar indices for cherry trees in Chile: methods and nutritional optimisation

Tech management

26 Mar 2025

Foliar analysis in cherry trees optimises nutrition and yield. In Chile, the limit line method defines sufficiency intervals for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other nutrients, improving fruit quality and crop sustainability.

In evidenza

Cherries worldwide: Turkey, Chile and USA lead global production and exports

Markets

04 Jul 2025

Turkey is now the world's leading cherry producer, followed by Chile and the USA. Based on FAO data, historical trends and projections to 2028, this article offers a full overview of the global cherry market, key exporting nations and the strategies of major producing countries.

CherryTech 2025: the largest technical showcase of the cherry industry

Events

04 Jul 2025

CherryTech 2025 brought together more than 1,600 professionals in Chile to explore the future of cherry production. With masterclasses, expert forums, and cutting-edge research, the event highlighted the importance of innovation, pruning techniques, and sustainable practices.

Tag Popolari