Great success for first Vinalopo Valley cherry season

We've all heard of the table grapes from the Vinalopó Valley, in Alicante, which have earned a reputation from their characteristic properties, provided by the microclimate of this producing area with a protected designation of origin; but what about the region's cherries?

The Alicante-based company Uvasdoce, leader in the production and marketing of table grapes, has closed its first cherry season this week, which is also the first official cherry season in the Vinalopó Valley.

"Never before had cherries been produced and marketed in this producing area. We haven't had great production volumes, which would be about 10,000 kilos, as it is our first season, but our selection of twelve varieties has been highly valued by our customers," explains Miriam Cutillas, head of marketing at Uvasdoce.

"These varieties have allowed us to reach the market early, in late April, even before the early cherries of Aragon and the Jerte Valley hit the shelves. They are medium and large calibre cherries with a hard flesh and crunchy feel, just what people like," she says.

The company had long been looking for a crop that would allow it to give continuity to its facilities. "Cherries have allowed us to keep our handling facility active," says Miriam. "Despite the fact that we could have started harvesting last year, we've waited a year for trees to grow stronger," she adds.

For now they only work with Spanish wholesale markets, such as Barcelona, Madrid and Alicante, and some in France, as well. "Next year we hope to market larger volumes with the entry into production of new plantations," states Miriam.

Uvasdoce is now planning its table grape campaign, which will start in the first week of July.