IFG expands the cherry season window with low-chill cherries

Bakersfield, Calif.-based International Fruit Genetics LLC (IFG) is expanding its low-chill cherry program.

IFG, which holds more than 48 patented table grape varieties and 10 patented sweet cherry varieties, is offering more low-chill cherry varieties for early harvest, according to a news release. 

The low-chill cherries will be sold in the U.S. and in other countries as the plantings start to mature, according to the release.

“Early is important, but there is a caveat — these cherries must be fully formed, large, tasty and crunchy, with great flavor that will set the tone for a great cherry season,” Alwyn van Jaarsveld, international commercial cherry manager for IFG, said in the release.  “Low-chill cherries allow retailers to begin the cherry season several weeks earlier, but they must do so without disappointing consumers — which means we cannot allow the early cherries to be small, tasteless or soft.”

Over the past few years, the low-chill cherry program at IFG has flourished, allowing growers to harvest cherries with fewer "chill hours" during the winter, resulting in the fruit ripening more quickly, van Jaarsveld said in the release.

In February, IFG announced adding more cherry varietals to its low-chill program, including the new trademarked names to its Cheery Cherry line, including Cheery Cupid, Cheery Nebula and Cheery Chap.

There are many benefits to the IFG low-chill program besides providing cherries earlier in the season, the release said. This includes producing cherries that are more uniform in quality — offering hardy varietals that are less susceptible to damage from either hot drought temperatures or excessive rains while staying fresh despite potentially long shipping and storage durations, the release said.

IFG’s Research & Development team can naturally breed low-chill cherries, ensuring the fruit can withstand several challenges and remain fresh, large and tasty, the release said.

 In response, growers worldwide are beginning to plant IFG’s Cheery Cherry varietals — most notably in Chile, which has become an essential cherry-growing region for IFG. 

“We welcomed growers in the orchards of Northern Chile, in Ovalle, IV Region, to showcase our Cheery Cherry varieties,” van Jaarsveld said in the release. “In 2016, the first Cheery Cherry variety to be commercially planted was Cheery Moon, and acreage for all Cheery Cherry varieties has expanded to more than 120 acres (50 ha) today.”

In addition to Chile, IFG licensees are starting to harvest low-chill cherries in areas where cherries are rarely grown due to warmer climates, such as Spain and Australia, the release said.