The experimental field in Vignola has been named after Andrea Bernardi, former president of the Consortium of the Cherry, Plum and Typical Fruit of Vignola, who passed away prematurely last September. The ceremony took place on Friday, 12 June, in the presence of Consortium members, institutional representatives and board members, and was preceded by a guided tour of the experimental activities currently under way.
The tribute stems from the joint initiative of the Consortia of Vignola: the Consortium of the Vignola Cherry PGI and the Consortium of the Cherry, Plum and Typical Fruit of Vignola. Both organisations asked the municipal administration to dedicate this place to the memory of Bernardi, recognising the deep bond that connected him for years to the experimental field and to the local production system.
Andrea Bernardi dedicated much of his professional life to fruit growing. Around twenty years ago, he took over the leadership of the Consortium of the Cherry, Plum and Typical Fruit of Vignola, making a decisive contribution to a phase of transformation for the sector.
During his presidency, the Vignola Cherry obtained Protected Geographical Indication recognition. This was a decisive step, strengthening the process of enhancing the product and leading to the creation of a Consortium specifically dedicated to the protection and promotion of the Vignola Cherry PGI.
Pier Giorgio Lenzarini, president of the Vignola Cherry PGI Consortium, remembered Bernardi as a figure capable of combining technical expertise, vision and dialogue. His agricultural roots, Lenzarini emphasised, gave him a practical approach, closeness to producers and constant attention to innovation. One of his most widely recognised qualities was his ability to involve the so-called “Vignola system”: Consortia, professional organisations, the cooperative world, private traders and operators across the supply chain.
According to Lenzarini, naming the experimental field after Andrea Bernardi means not only recognising his contribution to the growth of the Vignola Cherry, but also preserving the memory of his human qualities, which are still considered a point of reference for the entire production community.
The choice of location is no coincidence. It was precisely in the experimental field that Bernardi invested time, energy and vision, identifying it as a strategic tool to support the evolution of Vignola cherry growing and the consolidation of the Vignola Cherry PGI.
Director Valter Monari highlighted the central role of experimentation in providing practical answers to producers. The field is used to test varieties, rootstocks, covering systems and protection techniques against rain and insects. Even unsuccessful results, he explained, represent a valuable body of knowledge: knowing that a specific solution does not work helps avoid mistakes in the field and better guide future choices.
Cherry growing in Vignola, Monari recalled, has also changed thanks to the experience gained in experimental fields. Today’s priorities include reducing unproductive periods, improving crop protection and adopting a more comprehensive approach to the sector’s critical issues, within a constantly evolving context.
During the visit, some of the main lines of work currently active in the experimental field were presented. The site mainly hosts cherry trees and, to a lesser extent, plum trees. Among the most significant trials are a varietal field with more than 80 varieties and selections, an area dedicated to comparing rootstocks, a plot managed under organic farming and new experiments aimed at controlling Drosophila suzukii.
Great attention is also being paid to high-density orchards with dwarfing rootstocks, designed to bring production forward and improve the efficiency of cultivation. This direction confirms the value of applied research as a lever for the competitiveness of local fruit-growing businesses.
Stefano Cavani, president of the Consortium of the Cherry, Plum and Typical Fruit of Vignola, described the dedication as a fair and necessary recognition of the work carried out by Bernardi, together with Valter Monari, in the redevelopment of cherry growing in the Vignola Cherry production area. According to Cavani, this commitment helped keep a complex territory united and is now reflected in a production of high quality.
The ceremony was attended by Mayor Angelo Pasini, Regional Councillor Alessio Mammi, Director Valter Monari, President Pier Giorgio Lenzarini and Stefano Cavani, president of the Consortium of the Cherry, Plum and Typical Fruit of Vignola.
The naming of the experimental field after Andrea Bernardi therefore takes on a twofold meaning: on the one hand, it is a gesture of gratitude towards a figure who had a profound impact on fruit growing in Vignola; on the other, it reaffirms the role of experimentation as a driver of innovation, dialogue and growth for the territory.
In Bernardi’s name, the experimental field in Vignola continues to represent a bridge between memory and the future: a place where the Vignola Cherry PGI can find new technical answers, new production prospects and renewed identity strength.
Text and image source: Sassuolo 2000
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