"The super millionaire fruits of the Alma Mater": this is how Corriere della Sera headlined years ago when announcing the results obtained by researchers from the Department of Agri-food Sciences and Technologies of the University of Bologna on the cherry tree genetic improvement project: the seven Sweet® sisters, the new varieties named after the children or loved ones of their inventors.
A team led by Stefano Lugli who, starting from old indigenous varieties, the famous Duroni di Vignola, bearers of valuable traits such as sweetness, texture and aroma, has been able to combine these virtues with others, such as beauty, size and productivity, taking them from varieties of American origin.
Below, the report by Bettina Riedel, variety manager of UNIBO, presented at the seminar on cherry variety innovation at Macfrut 2023. Precisely at Macfrut, ten years ago, the Sweet® varieties made their debut winning, among others, the Oscar prize for innovation.
12 Jan 2024
On the choice of planting material and the necessary cultivation practices to ensure the best initial development of cherry trees, Cherry Times interviewed Dr. Eduardo Madrid Pardo, Chilean agronomist consultant specialised in nursery techniques.
25 Jun 2026
France expects more than 30,000 tonnes of cherries this year, around one third above average. Growers are urging consumers to buy more, while hand picking, short shelf life, pest pressure and rising orchard costs keep retail prices between €5 and €8 per kilo in June.
30 Oct 2026
Managing processing times means ensuring that fruit moves from harvesting to cooling with as few interruptions as possible. The aim is to reduce waiting, balance capacity across the different stages, prevent accumulation and identify bottlenecks before they compromise fruit condi
30 Oct 2026
Although lower production may put upward pressure on prices, the extent of any increases will depend on demand, existing supplies and supplier-specific market conditions.
