News about Kir

Stemilt signs an agreement to grow the extra-late KIR varieties

Varieties

21 Apr 2026

Stemilt has signed an agreement with Brandt’s Fruit Trees and LFP to grow KIR cherries, late and ultra-late varieties bred in Germany, aiming to extend the commercial season through September and enhance the quality of premium cherry supply in the United States market.

KIR: new German varieties spark interest in the UK

Varieties

17 Nov 2025

Gräb Nursery visits top cherry growers in the UK to evaluate late Kir® varieties. Focus on fruit quality, storage and cracking resistance. In partnership with Frank P Matthews Trees, the aim is to develop stronger, tastier and climate-adapted cherry cultivars.

LFP programme: German ultra-late varieties on their way to possible conquest of Chile

Varieties

17 May 2024

The German LFP selections, including the promising varieties KIR VULCANO®, KIR LAMOUR® and KIR ROSSO® have a harvest period between Regina and up to 2 weeks after staccato. They have already established themselves in Chile and will bear their first fruit in the 2024/25 season.

Many varieties are available but none is perfect

Varieties

07 Apr 2023

According to a survey conducted by Dondini et al (2019) and recently updated (Lugli, 2023), more than 50 breeding programmes aimed at creating new cherry varieties and rootstocks are active worldwide. Creating a new variety has become an all-round entrepreneurial activity.