Having been a territorial AOP since 2009, Cerises de France finally gained recognition as the national AOP (association of producer organisations) for cherries in December last year.
With 800 members, the association has a combined production area of approximately 1,600ha, producing a total of 10,000 tonnes of cherries per year, according to the Fld.
The bulk of production reportedly occurs in the southeast of the country, with Rhone-Alps accounting for 47 per cent of the production area and Vaucluse making up 38 per cent.
The association's Alexandra Lacoste commented: 'The AOP is positioned as the government's sole spokesperson on matters of national policy on the product concerning national and EU regulations. Its aim is to lead the strategies to match supply and demand during the campaigns and in the long term.'
One of the main challenges that the AOP will have to tackle is the pest drosophila suzukii, or the vinegar fly, for which an effective protection is urgently required in 2012.
