News about France

Hot water treatments (HWT) as an alternative for sweet cherry storage and quality

Post-harvest​

28 Jun 2024

The study conducted by C. Aubert and colleagues from the Centre Technique Interprofessionnel des Fruits et Légumes (France) investigates the impact of hot water treatments (HWT) on the quality and preservation of sweet cherries, focusing on two cultivars: Balrine and Regina.

Monts du Lyonnais: the sweet history of Burlat cherries

Specialties

28 Jun 2024

Granitic soil, filtering sandstone, cherry trees planted on elevated slopes: it is this terroir that differentiates the Burlat cherry seen on all French markets. The Burlat cherry preserves its freshness more easily, which makes it possible to extend the harvest period.

France: national production to increase by +10% in 2024

Production

25 Jun 2024

As of 1 June, 2024 production was estimated at 37,000 tonnes, an increase of 10% over the previous year and 21% over the average harvest from 2019 to 2023. The start of the campaign is in line with last year, with bad weather reducing the market supply.

Cherry market: a global analysis of harvest trends

Markets

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.

France: price swing due to the market and the fight against Drosophila suzukii

Markets

03 Jun 2024

‘It cannot be said that prices are soaring. Drosophila suzukii has destroyed many volumes, accentuating this phenomenon,' explains Jérémie Becciu. If prices were quite high at the beginning of the season, they are now quite reasonable: between EUR 2.5 and EUR 4 per kilo.

France: cherry production expected to increase by 12% in 2024

Production

23 May 2024

As of 1 May, cherry production for the 2024 marketing year was estimated at 37,700 tonnes, an increase of 12% year-on-year and 23% year-on-year. The survey covers 3 regions, representing 81% of the national production in 2023.

How to combat Drosophila suzukii in 2024: the CTIFL guide

Crop protection

03 May 2024

In 2023, the CTIFL launched a trial to evaluate protection strategies. Six strategies were compared, two of which can be used in organic farming. These strategies are based on products available with perennial marketing authorization or 120-day marketing authorization in 2023.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identify genes related to cherry size

Breeding

13 Mar 2024

11 and 12 candidate genes related to fruit size and cracking-related traits, respectively, were identified. The researchers also identified several candidate genes involved in phytohormone, calcium and cell wall metabolisms.

French genome-wide association studies identify 65 SNP-trait associations

Press review

07 Mar 2024

Using 116 sweet cherry accessions, researchers analysed 23 agronomic fruit quality traits. The research uses genotyping by sequencing (GBS) to identify genetic markers associated with improved fruit quality.

Drosophila suzukii, hope from the sterile insect technique (SIT)

Crop protection

01 Mar 2024

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is based on the flooding of sterilised males of the species by ionising X-ray irradiation. SIT has been used successfully in the past against other key pests, e.g. the fruit fly.