News about Spain

In Extremadura, agricultural insurance subsidies are being increased: up to 75 per cent for cherries in 2026

Tech management

06 Oct 2026

Extremadura is raising agricultural insurance subsidies in 2026: general support rises from 40% to 45%, while help for cherry growers increases from 60% to 75%. The new rates apply from 1 January, with refunds for eligible policies already taken out earlier in the year.

Corette: the new range of rootstocks for intensive cherry orchards

Rootstocks

28 Sep 2026

The Corette® series introduces low-vigor cherry rootstocks for high-density orchards. Trials in Spain, Italy and across Europe are assessing yield, adaptation to calcareous soils, protected cultivation, lower winter chilling requirements and mechanization strategies.

How mineral fertiliser affects the quality of cherries

Tech management

25 Sep 2026

Sweet cherry nutrition and fruit quality: studies from Chile, USA, Spain and other countries show how nitrogen, potassium, calcium, boron, phosphorus and magnesium affect fruit size, firmness, soluble solids, color, cracking and postharvest storage performance.

Jerte Valley: biotechnology driving innovation in cherry varieties

Breeding

14 Sep 2026

In Spain’s Jerte Valley, genomic selection is speeding up cherry breeding: Cicytex and Agrupación de Cooperativas Valle del Jerte will work through 2030 on 1,000 trees and around 110 varieties to identify fruit quality, ripening and market suitability earlier using DNA.

The harvest of Jerte PDO cherries has yielded 7.5 million kg of certified produce

Production

11 Aug 2026

The Jerte Cherry PDO closes a very positive season, with 5 million kg of cherries and 2.5 million kg of certified picota. High quality, new varieties and strong European sales reinforce the value and identity of the local cherry supply chain, protected by the Jerte PDO.

Adverse weather conditions and low prices are pushing Aragon’s cherry-growing sector into crisis

Production

30 Jul 2026

In Aragon, cherry growers receive just €0.50 per kilo while labor alone costs €1.20. ARAGA warns that unsustainable prices, adverse weather and widening supply-chain margins are threatening farms, rural communities and the long-term future of the region’s fruit sector.

After a disastrous season, Extremadura producers call for an urgent action plan for cherries.

Production

29 Jul 2026

UPA-UCE and Asaja urge the Extremadura government to launch an emergency plan for cherry growers in northern Cáceres after storms caused losses above €20 million, destroyed harvests, cut farm income below production costs and exposed major gaps in crop insurance today.

Spanish research is at the cutting edge: scientists in Elche are improving the flavour and production of cherries

Quality

20 Jul 2026

A study by Miguel Hernández University in Elche shows that natural treatments with putrescine and spermidine can raise sweet cherry yields in Spain by up to 40%, reduce rain-induced cracking, and improve fruit firmness, color, flavor and overall market quality too.

Pre-harvest determinants in sweet cherry production for the fresh market - Part 2: cultural practices, planting systems and adaptation to climate change

Tech management

09 Jul 2026

In Jerte Valley sweet cherry orchards, irrigation, crop load, canopy and nutrition shape fruit quality, yield and cracking risk. Preharvest management supports adaptation to extreme climate events, rainfall, water stress, fruit wetness and evolving production demands.

Pre-harvest determinants in cherry production for the fresh market – Part 1: environment, genetic factors and production physiology

Tech management

07 Jul 2026

Dormancy, winter chill, cultivar and rootstock choice, pollination and climate-risk management shape sweet cherry yield and quality in Spain, from the Jerte Valley to Zaragoza, across high-value fresh-market orchards facing frost, heat, rain, cracking and yield risk.