There are definitely more Bierzo cherry producers, but 20 is a good figure to start the marketing of the fruit under the Certification Mark. "Many people have issued the paperwork and from now until the start of the harvesting campaign the figure could still increase; however, this figure of twenty producers is an interesting number to start out with," says Pablo Linares, technical director of the Certification Mark.
As for the location of the cherry farms of these twenty professionals who have joined this quality label, "more than half are from the municipality of Corullón," states Linares.
It is worth recalling that the town council of this municipality has already started several initiatives to promote the economy linked to this fruit. While at first it was decided to use the bloom of the cherry trees as an incentive to attract tourists to Corullón, in the last year it has launched the initiative "Mil cereixais" (A thousand cherry trees), which has consisted in the distribution of a thousand cherry trees among its inhabitants in order to give a boost to the production of cherries in the area.
Regarding the number of companies that produce or market cherries in the region, the Certification Mark already has eight.
"It is necessary to explain to the producers that being attached to the Certification Mark does not mean that they'll have to sell their products to someone they don't want to sell them to. They will be able to continue selling them as they have until now; the only difference is that the Certification Mark can help them get in touch with these companies if they wish, but the final decision will always be theirs."
The first cherries under the umbrella of the Certification Mark should start to be harvested in the last weeks of May; however, the severe frost recorded last week at the Bierzo has seriously endangered the production, with only the trees located in the highest areas having escaped it.
Source: diariodeleon.es
