THE ITALIAN SWEET CHERRY EVALUATION PROJECT

To support and co-ordinate the regular development of national horticulture, in 1993 the Italian Ministero delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali launched and funded a national project for evaluating the performance of new and old cultivars of strawberry (Fragaria × spp.), pome and stone fruits, including sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.). Eighty-three selected old and new cherry cultivars have been progressively included into the Project and are now under observation in evaluation orchards. Only cultivars with large fruits (>7 to 8 g), red skin and semi-firm to firm flesh have been considered. Several self-compatible cultivars have been included as well as some suited for mechanical harvesting