News about Italy

Italian Cherry Competition: the old ‘Spernocchia’ and the new ‘Sweet Saretta’ take the top prizes

Varieties

22 Jun 2026

The 29th Italian Cherries National Competition concluded in Bracigliano, honoring Spernocchia cherries from Bracigliano Natura and Alfonso Ferrentino, Sweet Saretta from Quartieri Farm, and Ferrovia from Rosanna Gullo for quality, flavor and deep territorial identity.

Italian cherry season: in the Euganean Hills, local fruit becomes a story of climate, identity and agromarketing

Specialties

16 Jun 2026

The 2026 sweet cherry season in Italy’s Euganean Hills reflects unstable weather, strong yields and direct sales. In Vò, Laura Ambrosi explains how quality, fruit size up to 30 mm, trust and territorial identity create value for growers, tourists and consumers in Veneto.

Vignola Cherry PGI: the experimental field in Vignola will be named after Andrea Bernardi

Specialties

15 Jun 2026

In Vignola, the experimental orchard was named after Andrea Bernardi, former Consortium president and a key figure for Vignola Cherry PGI. The tribute highlights his work for innovation, research and dialogue among producers, institutions and the local fruit supply chain.

The word “marchiano” derives from an ancient variety of cherry

Specialties

11 Jun 2026

From the legendary Marchian cherries of Italy’s Marche region to Vignola IGP’s Durone della Marca: the remarkable story of an oversized fruit whose reputation shaped the Italian language, turning its name into an adjective for something huge, blatant and impossible to ignore.

Biodiversity and the future: from the Vignola Moretta cherry to Carlo Petrini’s lesson

Specialties

29 May 2026

From Carlo Petrini to the Slow Food Presidia, the future of cherry growing depends on biodiversity. Vignola Moretta Cherry shows an agricultural model that resists global standardization, linking Europe, Turkey and resilient local territories against intensive monocultures.

Vignola PGI cherries: the 2026 season is underway

Production

18 May 2026

Vignola PGI cherries begin the 2026 season with estimates of up to 50,000 quintals. Premium quality, rain protection systems and a new marketing campaign strengthen the brand’s positioning across mass retailers, specialist shops and Italian consumers until early July in Italy.

Apulian cherry season: rain and prices slow the start

Production

15 May 2026

In Apulia, the 2026 cherry season starts under pressure from rain, cracking, Bigarreau damage and falling prices. Early varieties are struggling, while growers and traders focus on Ferrovia cherries, crop covers and shared strategies to protect quality, income and market value.

Italian ceramics at a crossroads: real change is needed

Events

30 Apr 2026

The national cherry conference in Sammichele di Bari explores key challenges and future prospects of Apulia’s cherry sector, focusing on varietal innovation, climate change impacts and market strategies to improve competitiveness and supply chain sustainability.

The cherry industry and the quintessentially Italian art of standing still

Production

30 Mar 2026

The cherry supply chain in Apulia, the core of Italy’s production, is falling behind global competitors. Limited innovation, outdated varieties, and weak logistics are slowing growth, increasing the risk of losing international market share to more advanced producers.

Coverings in cherry orchards in Italy: effects on the microclimate and the physiology of the cherry tree

Covers

23 Mar 2026

Canopies in cherry orchards in Italy alter the microclimate, photosynthesis and water status of the cherry trees. The CHOICE study reveals effects on temperature, light and VPD, with implications for yield and quality. Analysis and findings to optimise the management of modern or