Being a highly productive variety, with reduced cracking and excellent organoleptic quality, made the Royal Lafayette cherry variety the real highlight of the on-site tour organized by Vivai F.lli Zanzi together with IPS International Plant Selection, held on Wednesday, 3 June, 2020. More than 30 experts, including technicians, farmers and commercial operators, were present.
Watch the video interview with Enrico Zanzi
One of the main points mentioned by all the speakers was that "too often the cherries are not harvested at the right ripening point. Some varieties, such as Kordia, lose size and some of their taste qualities if harvested too early."
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Some participants who attended the event on 3 June 2020
"Royal Lafayette is meeting all expectations," said Enrico Zanzi, "with its large calibre, 30-32 mm medium-dominant, bright dark red color, sweet taste and a hint of acidity. The flesh is consistent and juicy. The low exposure to cracking is important. Although it has not rained this year and therefore there would not have been any problems, in some other years it has been an impacting factor. However, this does not exclude the need to install rain nets."
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Royal Lafayette
The meeting was hosted at the the F.lli Zanzi Vivai testing sites. Varieties and selections are cultivated with the same technique and under the same conditions, in order to have a homogeneous and statistically valid reference. The two plots comprise, in total, about 70 selections and varieties which are monitored.
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Enrico Zanzi
"The Royal Lafayette trees - added Zanzi- are fourth-leaf, grown on the rootstock Gisela 6. They have withstood quite well the spring cold, when temperatures dropped to -5°C. The harvesting is quick, with a good distribution of fruits, which facilitates harvesting".
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Giovanni Zanzi
Among the other varieties evaluated were Royal Tioga, Royal Edie, Royal Helen and Sofia, all of which showed good size (Royal Edie and Helen species) and good cracking tolerance. "As far as we are concerned," concluded Giovanni Zanzi, "we are willing to assist the producers in the realization of a brand new planting, according to the most modern selection criteria, especially with regards to the variety.
Contact:
Vivai F.lli Zanzi
Via del Gorgo 137
Loc. Gorgo di Fossanova San Marco
44124 Ferrara
Phone.: +39 (0)532 719072
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.vivaizanzi.it
