Stefano Lugli - SL Fruit Service (IT)
Chair of Cherry Times technical-scientific committee
The four varieties of the Final® series derive from a breeding programme conducted by Peter Stoppel in Kressbronn (Germany) on a population of seedlings obtained by crossing an old native variety, Spate von Wedler, and a self-fertile variety of Canadian origin, Sweetheart®.
The aim of the project was to obtain new late-ripening varieties, after Regina, to be proposed as possible alternatives to the Canadian varieties, e.g. Sweetheart® and Staccato®, varietal types that are poorly adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of the cherry growing area in the Bodensee.
Image 1 - Peter Stoppel
The Final® varieties were presented in 2019 at the International Cherry Symposium in Vignola (Italy). The salient and most interesting traits of the four sisters marketed under the Cerasina® brand are, at least on paper, the extra-long ripening time, the high productivity and the high quality standards of the cherries.
Here are the video and the english article of Peter Stoppels' contribution at ICS 2019 in Vignola.
Image 2 – New Final® series rootstocks
Thanks to an exclusive contract signed four years ago with Cerasina® and valid for North-West Italy, Sanifutta, a Piedmontese company that is a member of Op Joinfruit, wanted to extend the variety offer in the late harvest period, so as to continue after Kordia-Regina and for at least three to four weeks the offer of high-quality cherries.
Sanifrutta's goal is to reach a total of 70 to 80 hectares planted with late harvest cherries in the next 4 to 5 years, with a volume of approximately 1000 to 1200 tonnes per year of product.
The four self-fertile varieties of the Final® series ripen at different times and with differences in days to Regina varying from one environment to another and from one year to another. For the current season (2023) in Piedmont the harvest of Final 10.4 started on 28 June (+10 days Regina)..
This is followed by Final 11.3 (+14 days Regina), Final 12.1 (+17 days Regina) and Final 13.1 (+23 days Regina).
The main characteristics of the Final® series varieties are summarised below.
Image 3 – Final® 10.4
Image 4 – Final® 11.3
Image 5 – Final® 12.1
Image 6 – Final® 13.1
17 Jun 2024
The cherry harvest in the northern hemisphere got off to a promising start, being 10-15 days earlier than in previous years in some European countries. This early start also led to an early end of the season for some varieties.
15 Nov 2024
Fedefruta points to several possible factors. “It could be due to a pattern, the area, the microclimate, or related to a varietal issue and agronomic management,” the experts commented. According to them, the fruit drop could be part of a natural load adjustment.
16 Mar 2026
From May 18 to 22, 2026, the University of Lleida in Spain will host an international course focused on innovations in cherry and hazelnut production. The program combines academic lectures with technical tours and meetings with leading farms and agribusiness companies.
16 Mar 2026
Historical research reveals that organized sweet cherry cultivation in Greece began much earlier than previously believed. Ottoman tax registers from the 16th century show that commercial cherry orchards were already present in the Edessa region.
