Cherry production was one of the hardest hit in 2017, after climatic conditions had affected fruit and vegetable supplies all over the world. In terms of cherries, frosty weather during the last spring, caused losses all over Europe, in major producing countries such as Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, Austria, and France.
The lack of supply has affected the overall cherry supply in Europe and the US, with traders forced to source the cherries in multiple locations in order to have enough supply to cover demand.
Carmen Popescu from Octofrost believes that IQF cherries are a great way for grower's to maximise their harvest and the company encourages producers to get in touch with them to learn more about the IQF and the correct preparation needed before freezing their fruits.
"Cherries are a high value product and the increasing demand from dairy and confectionary industries is fueling the demand for IQF cherries. However, not all frozen products are created equal," said Carmen.
She continued, "In order to really maximise the cherry harvest, it is important to choose the correct freezing method. Cherries are a juicy and high-BRIX product, therefore the correct infeed temperature is yet again needed to preserve a good appearance and shape of the fruit while keeping a high yield. The high Brix levels also means that the juice, which is almost a syrup, needs to be frozen a few degrees colder than other fruits for the best results."
