The volume of cherries sold under the Cereza del Jerte Denomination of Origin doubled in 2014, according to the label’s regulatory council. In all, 9,377 tonnes were certified last year, of which 8,212 tonnes were Picota cherries, representing 87.5 per cent of the total.
Ignacio Montero, the council’s president, said the campaign had been marked by the “exceptional quality” of the crop.
“In terms of the geographical distribution of sales, the majority were sold on the international market, the biggest market being the UK which accounted for around 80 per cent of exports,” he said.
Characterised by their flavour and sweetness, Cereza del Jerte DOP cherries are grown in the north of the province of Cáceres in Extremadura. They are hand picked at optimum ripeness and the production season runs from late April to early August.
