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knowledge.domain = commodity, key = cherry(GDF v2.0, 3250 attributes, 28 sections).Renderer:
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Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Cherry |
| Scientific name | Prunus avium |
| Family / Genus | Rosaceae / Prunus |
| Produce category | Stone Fruit |
| Produce subcategory | Sweet Cherry |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4045 |
| PLU — organic | 94045 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_1599 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 75.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bing | 35% | Dark red to mahogany skin, firm flesh, large size (9.5-10 row), sweet flavor with low acid. Mid to late season harvest. Most widely grown sweet cherry variety in North America. |
| Rainier | 12% | Yellow skin with pink blush, creamy yellow flesh, exceptionally sweet (18-22 Brix), thin skin prone to bruising. Premium market positioning. Mid season harvest. |
| Sweetheart | 10% | Bright red, heart-shaped, very firm flesh, excellent storage and shipping qualities. Self-fertile. Late season harvest (7-10 days after Bing). Resistant to cracking. |
| Chelan | 8% | Dark mahogany, very firm, early season variety (7-10 days before Bing). Excellent shipping qualities, good flavor balance. Moderately resistant to rain cracking. |
| Lapins | 7% | Dark red to black, large size, firm texture, self-fertile. Late season harvest (with or slightly after Bing). Good cracking resistance and storage life. |
| Skeena | 6% | Dark red to mahogany, very large fruit, firm, excellent flavor. Self-fertile. Mid to late season. Good resistance to rain cracking and splitting. |
| Santina | 5% | Dark red, heart-shaped, very early season (10-14 days before Bing). Self-fertile, moderate firmness, good eating quality for early variety. |
| Benton | 4% | Dark red, medium to large size, firm flesh, excellent flavor. Mid season (slightly before Bing). Developed by Oregon State University. Good cracking resistance. |
| Tieton | 3.5% | Dark red, very large fruit, firm, good flavor. Early season (10 days before Bing). Self-fertile. Good cracking resistance. |
| Staccato | 3% | Bright red, very late season harvest (14+ days after Bing). Self-fertile, exceptionally firm, excellent storage life. Proprietary Summerland breeding program variety. |
| Kordia | 2.5% | Very dark, almost black, very large size, firm flesh, excellent flavor. Late season. European variety gaining US market share. Requires pollinizer. |
| Regina | 2% | Dark red to mahogany, very late season (21+ days after Bing), excellent firmness and storage. German origin. Highly resistant to rain cracking. |
| Montmorency | 1.5% | Bright red, tart cherry (Prunus cerasus), self-fertile. Dominates tart cherry market (>90% of US tart cherry production). Primary processing cherry for pies, preserves. |
| Lambert | 0.5% | Dark red, large size, late season heritage variety. Declining market share due to cracking susceptibility but still grown for flavor and processing. |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: null°F.
- Freezing point: 27.9°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 5 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_low |
| Production rate (20°C) | 0.4 μL/kg·hr typical (0.2–0.6) |
| Sensitivity class | low |
| Sensitivity threshold | 10 ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: Non-climacteric fruit; quality determined at harvest. Do not store with high ethylene producers for extended periods as stem browning may accelerate.
Mixed-load compatibility
stone_fruits_berries
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Growing steadily at 3-4% annually driven by health benefits awareness, snacking trends, and year-round availability. Premium dark sweet varieties gaining market share. E-commerce and direct-to-consumer channels expanding rapidly.
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.75 |
| Income elasticity | 0.65 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -0.45 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Bing | 28.5% |
| Rainier | 12% |
| Chelan | 10.5% |
| Sweetheart | 9% |
| Skeena | 8.5% |
| Lapins | 7.5% |
| Brooks | 6% |
| Santina | 5.5% |
| Other varieties | 12.5% |
Pack sizes
- 18 lb carton/lug
- 20 lb carton/lug
- 15 lb flat
- 10 x 1 lb clamshells
- 12 x 2 lb pouches
- Single layer flats (8-12 lbs)
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
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