International Fruit Genetics LLC (IFG) is expanding its low-chill cherry program and closing a gap that has eluded retailers and cherry lovers for years. Given that IFG’s low-chill cherries are all early harvest, retailers can now offer more IFG cherry varietals much earlier in the season.
The low-chill cherries will be sold in the U.S. and in other countries as the plantings start to mature, which in turn allows for more IFG cherries to bloom early in the season.
“Early is important, but there is a caveat – these cherries must be fully formed, large, tasty and crunchy with great flavor that will set the tone for a great cherry season,” says Alwyn van Jaarsveld, international commercial cherry manager, IFG. “Low-chill cherries allow retailers to begin the season several weeks earlier, but they must do so without disappointing consumers which means we cannot allow the early cherries to be small, tasteless or soft.”
IFG's Cheery Crunch cherry.
Over the past few years, according to van Jaarsveld, the low-chill cherry program at IFG has flourished, allowing growers to harvest cherries with fewer "chill hours" during the winter, resulting in the fruit ripening more quickly. In February, IFG announced adding more cherry varietals to its low-chill program, including the new trademarked names to its Cheery Cherry™ line, including Cheery Cupid™, Cheery Nebula™ and Cheery Chap™.
There are many benefits to the program besides providing cherries earlier in the season. This includes producing cherries that are more uniform in quality -- offering hardy varietals that are less susceptible to damage from either hot drought temperatures or excessive rains while staying fresh despite potentially long shipping and storage durations. IFG’s research & development team can naturally breed low-chill cherries, ensuring the fruit can withstand several challenges and remain fresh, large and tasty.
In response, growers worldwide are beginning to plant IFG’s Cheery Cherry varietals– most notably in Chile, which has become an essential cherry-growing region for IFG.
“We welcomed growers in the orchards of Northern Chile, in Ovalle, IV Region, to showcase our Cheery Cherry varieties,” says van Jaarsveld. “In 2016, the first variety to be commercially planted was Cheery Moon™ and acreage for all Cheery Cherry varieties has expanded to more than 120 acres (50 ha) today.”
IFG licensees are also starting to harvest low-chill cherries in areas where cherries are rarely grown due to warmer climates, such as Spain and Australia.
“Our growers now have access to the markets, pack houses and cooling and shipping routes – everything they need to grow and distribute quality low-chill cherries,” says van Jaarsveld. “This is very lucrative for the growers and the retailers as IFG has helped them expand their window for cherry season.”
For more information:
Tamara Baker
IFG
Tel: +1 (661) 345-7580
tbaker@ifg.world
www.ifg.world