The Jerte Valley in Extremadura, Spain, is renowned for its picota cherries, signaling the arrival of summer with their availability from May to July. The 14th 'picota' cherry fair, commemorating the mid-harvest, took place on 1 June in Jerte.
Since the 17th century, picota cherries enjoy a protected status under the Cereza del Jerte seal. This distinction is reserved for four cherry varieties cultivated in the Jerte, Ambroz, and La Vera valleys in northern Cáceres, adjacent to Andalucía. The region boasts over 3,700 cherry farms, covering approximately 10,000 hectares.
According to a local farmer, picota cherries are distinguished by their stalkless harvest, a result of being hand-picked. These cherries are protected by a Denomination of Origin certificate, ensuring their PDO status within the EU. The cultivation and packaging process is strictly regulated to maintain their unique quality. Post-harvest, the cherries undergo natural processing, without any treatments that could compromise their quality. Approximately 40% of the picota cherry production is exported, with Germany and the United Kingdom being significant markets. In 2011, the UK experienced a peak in demand, purchasing 10 million punnets during a five-week period.
Source: surinenglish.com