Research performed by Avium, with the goal of establishing better production prognoses. The research covers the last six cherry seasons (2012-2017), and within it the main quality features of six varieties: Royal Dawn, Santina, Bing, Lapins, Sweetheart and Regina (chart).

The studied variables were average fruit weight for each caliber category and its relation with firmness (Durofel), dry matter (%) and soluble solids (°Brix).

With the information that has been obtained, producers will be able to assess weighted fruit mass using caliber distribution, which will allow them to estimate results on a basis that has a firmer foundation. This prognosis could lead to important differences in reaping calculations, materials, ladders, boxes, etc.

From the chart, we can point to the results obtained by Santina, Bing and Regina, which confirm customer preference for their caliber, firmness and sweetness. However, other varieties are also well valued, just based on different features.

“One of the greatest challenges for the fruit industry is to reach more precise estimations that allow for the establishment and programming of different tasks. For cherries this might be even more complicated, because the large amount of fruits that a single plant can bear and the “low weight” of each, translates into recurring estimation errors. It is important to be able to establish the fact that, depending on each variety’s features, their quality parameters also have differences. This study, which is still underway (we are currently working on amassing a greater amount of data so that the registry can be even more accurate) seeks the goal of revealing the true face of the different cherry varieties available in Chile, in terms of quality parameters and fruit size,” pointed out Carlos Tapia, director at Avium.