Royal Helen: the fairest of them all

04 Jul 2023
2651

Stefano Lugli - SL Fruit Service (IT)
Chair of Cherry Times technical-scientific committee

The cultivar (cv) Royal Helen* produced by a young producer from the province of Modena (IT) was awarded the title of 'Most Beautiful Cherry in Italy' 2023. Congratulations to Riccardo Bergonzini. The jury of the competition that rewards Italian excellence every year during an initiative now in its XXIV edition, supported by teams of renowned chefs and qualified experts of this fruit of paradise, decreed the Californian maiden as the most charming of cherries, but not the tastiest.FOTO 1: Classifica del concorso nazionale “Ciliegie d’Italia” 2023IMAGE 1: Classification of the national 'Cherries of Italy' competition 2023

The fine palates of the commission decided that the award for the best cherry should go to an elderly lady from Campania, now at the end of her career, the variety Spernocchia.

FOTO 2: SpernocchiaIMAGE 2: Spernocchia

Old hen makes good stock? Wisdom comes with age? It depends on the point of view. I share a thought by Oscar Whild that seems pertinent: With age comes wisdom, but sometimes age comes alone.

Royal Helen's value

IMAGE 3: Royal Helen*

A pragmatic view, supported by experimental experience and direct observations in orchards, leads us to say that Royal Helen* should rightfully be included in the top ten of the new late season cherry varieties. For these three reasons: high aesthetic standards, excellent cherry quality and high production performance.

IMAGE 4: Main features of Royal Helen*

The varieties of the Royal® series, the Californian cherries of Zaiger Genetics, were presented to the general public four years ago at the International Cherry Symposium in Vignola (IT). Among them is the cultivar Royal Helen*.

Links for further information:

Video
Articolo


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

Three new varieties added to the Cereza del Jerte PDO basket and increased market presence

Specialties

11 Mar 2025

Three new varieties of Jerte PDO cherries will be put on the market this year. The PDO Cereza del Jerte was able to modify its specification to cope with the increase in the number of products falling under its label.

Self-ventilating rain cover effects on orchard microclimate and sweet cherry tree

Covers

26 Feb 2025

The risk of late-season rainfall has led to significant industry investment in rain covers for sweet cherry production in Tasmania, Australia. A recent study identifies the effects.

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