Post-Harvest Matters: Protecting California Cherries for Next Season

Even after the last fruit is picked from the tree, there’s still activity in the orchards for California’s cherries. Jeremy Hamlin, technical sales manager in California from Cultiva…

“With a lot of other crops, that’s the end of one thing and onto the next. But, with cherries, it’s much different. The trees are still working hard to initiate buds, storing nutrients, and setting the stage for next season’s crop.”

He told me that post-harvest stress, especially from heat or drought, can really disrupt that process…

“When photosynthesis and transpiration get thrown off, it can and often does impact bud development. That’s where problems like cherry doubling and excess spur formations will show up in next year’s crop.”

This is when he recommends the use of Parka, a cuticle supplement that helps maintain those processes…

“And when applied post-harvest, Parka can reduce doubling by up to 64%. Applying it just after harvest with a couple of applications after that can support healthier bud development, reduce the risk of doubles and spurs, and set the stage for higher quality and more marketable fruit the following season.”

Learn more at Cultiva.com or connect with your local sales representative.