With cherry ripeness every day counts: picking too early means poorly coloured, less sweet fruit, picking too late means soft fruit that does not store well. The DA-Meter® handheld for cherries measures the ripeness of each fruit in a few seconds, directly on the tree and without picking it, so the harvest date is decided with a number rather than by eye.
Why cherries need a dedicated instrument
Cherries are small, have a highly coloured skin and a short harvest season. Instruments designed for apples and pears do not suit this kind of fruit well. The cherry version of the DA-Meter® has a contact reading head with a 9 mm support, designed for small fruit, and works on two wavelengths chosen specifically for cherries.
The measuring principle is the same across the whole DA-Meter® range. The instrument detects how the flesh beneath the skin absorbs light and calculates the DA Index®, which changes steadily as the fruit ripens. The method was developed by Prof. Costa at the University of Bologna and has also been validated on cherries in independent scientific studies.
Measuring cherry ripeness without picking the fruit
With traditional methods a few fruit are picked, their colour, firmness and sugar content are measured, and then they are thrown away. With the DA-Meter®, instead:
- you always measure the same fruit, marked on the tree, and see how their ripeness changes day by day;
- you measure many fruit in little time, so the sample truly represents the orchard;
- you compare different areasof the same orchard, for example the upper and lower canopy, or rows with different exposure;
- you compare varieties, to plan the harvest of early, mid and late cultivars.
When to use it
Before harvest.In the two or three weeks before harvest, a sample of fruit is measured at regular intervals. When the index reaches the reference value for that variety, it is time to pick.
In the packhouse.When lots arrive, a sample is measured to check that the batch is uniform and to decide how to handle and store it.
In distribution.At the point of sale or in quality control, the instrument gives an objective, repeatable measurement of the condition of the produce.
In research.In variety trials and growing protocols, it lets you follow the ripening of the same cherries throughout the season.
Reference values for the main cultivars
The ideal DA Index® value for harvest varies from one variety to another. In its annual measuring campaigns Sinteleia collects data on several cherry cultivars to test the instrument and its field applications.
Data and software
Measurements are saved in the instrument’s memory and can be downloaded to a computer to store them and compare orchard blocks, varieties and seasons, also with the ItsRipe software.
Frequently asked questions
Can the DA-Meter® for cherries also be used on other fruit?
The 9 mm head is designed for cherries. Trials on other small-fruit species are under way. There is a standard version for apples, pears and stone fruit, and a dedicated version for kiwifruit.
Does the measurement damage the cherry?
No. The reading is optical and leaves no marks, so the fruit stays on the tree and can be measured again.
How many fruit need to be measured?
It depends on the size of the orchard and the number of varieties. Write to us and we will recommend the most suitable measuring protocol.
How do I request a quote?
Fill in the form below with the cherry varieties and the intended use. We will get back to you with all the information.
(product code: FRM01CP)
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