The Regulatory Council of the Protected Designation of Origin Cereza del Jerte has begun certifying the first cherries of the season to ensure their maximum quality. This year's campaign will be marked by the certification of three new cherry varieties: Van, Lapins, and Burlat. They join the Navalinda variety, which the PDO has marketed for the last 30 years. This increase in certified varieties is due to the modification of the denomination's specifications, which will allow it to bring more quality production to the market.
"With this new certification, the PDO will have around 6.5 million more kilos of cherries than last year," stated the president of the Regulatory Body, José Antonio Tierno. "We expect to reach 7 million kilos of certified cherries and around 3 million kilos of picota cherries this season," he added.
The season is running some fifteen days delayed, a phenomenon that, according to the regulatory council, is due to the "extensive period of rain in the first months of spring." "The rains are the only weather issue we've faced. If things continue this way, we expect a good season in terms of volume and quality," Tierno stated.
The Cereza del Jerte PDO season lasts from May to August
The first certified cherries belong to the Burlat variety, the earliest in the Jerte Valley. It has a caliber between 22 and 28 millimeters, and its production will last until the end of May or the beginning of June. It will be followed by the Navalinda, Van, Picota, and the Lapins variety (the latest and with the biggest volume). The latter variety is produced until the beginning of August and accounts for 30 to 40% of total production.
The introduction of the new varieties will make it possible to have certified cherries on the market throughout the Jerte Valley's harvest season. One
campaign that "from the PDO is faced with great enthusiasm and joy," according to Tierno.
"The new varieties will have a very positive effect, because they will allow us to have more product on the market for longer, and that means great visibility for the PDO," he said.
The Cereza del Jerte PDO requested the inclusion of these new varieties to cope with the decrease in production experienced in recent seasons. Over the last 30 years, climate change and the natural evolution of crops have affected the varieties included, causing early and irregular flowering and reducing the ripening period of the fruit. Confronted with these challenges, the introduction of the Van, Lapins, and Burlat varieties will help complete production.
As a novelty, this year Jerte PDO cherries and picota cherries will coincide in the markets and fruit shops until the end of the season. As every year, the PDO expects to start certifying the picotas by mid-June.
For more information:
Consejo Regulador de la DOP Cerezas del Jerte
Carretera N-110, KM. 381,400
10613 Navaconcejo, Cáceres, España
Tel.: +34 927 471 101
Email: [email protected]
https://cerezadeljerte.org
