Rivoira Group, one of the leading companies in Italy in the production and marketing of high-quality fruit, based in Verzuolo (CN), is launching this year Skylar Rae, a premium bicolour cherry which, in addition to superior characteristics in terms of flavour, crunchiness and size, stands out for being marketed without a stem, introducing the CherryBerry concept. Marco Rivoira: “We do not simply want to introduce a new variety, but to change the way consumers experience cherries.” The product will arrive in June.
Rivoira Group presents Skylar Rae, the new exclusive Tip Top variety, for which it holds exclusive rights in Europe. The project introduces a completely new concept to the fruit and vegetable market: the CherryBerry. Designed for more immediate, practical and contemporary consumption, Skylar Rae redefines the traditional concept of premium cherries, transforming them into a natural, ready-to-eat snack.
“We do not simply want to introduce a new variety, but to change the way consumers experience cherries,” explains Marco Rivoira, CEO of Rivoira Group. “For years, the stem has been considered an essential element of the cherry. Through years of study on the Tip Top variety, we discovered something surprising: by gently removing the stem directly in the field, the fruit perfectly maintains its quality and even improves some of its physical characteristics.”
According to the studies carried out by Rivoira Group over two years of testing, both in Europe and South America, the Tip Top variety has a high natural wound-healing capacity at the point where the stem is detached. This characteristic makes it possible to best preserve the quality of the cherry even without the stem, reducing water loss and maintaining high levels of crunchiness, texture and freshness.
“Today, consumers are looking for products that are good, but also easy to consume and compatible with a dynamic lifestyle,” Rivoira continues. “With the CherryBerry concept, we are taking cherries beyond their most traditional image and turning them into a premium ready-to-eat snack.”
The project also introduces tangible advantages in terms of logistics and sustainability. Eliminating the volume occupied by the stem makes it possible to increase pack capacity, improve transport efficiency and optimise the use of packaging. With the same pack size, up to 25–30% more product can be included, generating a positive impact along the entire supply chain. “This is not about reducing the value of the product,” Rivoira emphasises, “but about increasing the overall efficiency and sustainability of the system.”
The commercial debut of Skylar Rae is scheduled from June 2026, with an initial pilot project dedicated to the Italian and German large-scale retail sector. In the initial phase, the product will be marketed exclusively by Rivoira Group, with a focus on leading Italian retailers, selected strategic chains in the German market and targeted tests in overseas markets.
At the same time, the production project is already expanding rapidly:
The goal is to progressively build a new premium category in the European cherry market, under the motto: “It looks like candy. It is a cherry.”
Source: fruitbookmagazine.it
Image source: Rivoira
28 May 2024
‘This year we have heard that there will be an overlap again,’ says Dan Davis of Washington Fruit Growers. ‘If this is the case, it will favour a transition to Washington, as we will have plenty of volume and good-sized fruit to satisfy the retailers.
05 Dec 2024
Cherries grown in the regions of Calatayud and Aranda, in the province of Zaragoza, have become a national reference. With over 3,000 hectares cultivated in 20 municipalities, this region is the leader in the Spanish market with an annual harvest exceeding 20.000 tonnes.
28 Jul 2026
Effective phytosanitary management of cherry wood requires prevention, accurate diagnosis and integrated strategies. Sanitary pruning, inoculum reduction, targeted treatments, biostimulation and seasonal monitoring help contain bacterial diseases and wood-decay fungi.
28 Jul 2026
In Kent, England, Agrícola San Clemente and FGA Farming are building an innovative cherry production model that combines technology, Chilean varieties, protective tunnels and seasonal workers from Chile to supply premium fruit directly to the British retail market.
