Sweet cherries are harvested at full ripeness and at their highest quality. This means that the fruit need to be cooled as soon as possible after harvest to slow down the respiration process, which in turn slows down the aging process degrading quality. Cherries do not have reserve carbohydrates like starch in apples, but it is possible to store them for a few months, depending on their condition when they arrive at the packinghouse. Cherries are not able to prevent water loss very well, so they need to be stored in an environment with temperature and relative humidity monitored closely to minimize movement of water from inside the fruit to the air.
Useful Resources and References:
More information specific to handling and storage of cherries can be found using the links below. Additional resources can be located using the search box at the top of this page.
WSU-TFREC Postharvest Information Network
- Evaluation of sweet cherry fruit and stem damage when applying peroxyacetic acid or sodium hypochlorite after harvest, E. Kupferman, 2008.
- Temperature Management and modified atmosphere packing to preserve sweet cherry quality, E. Kupferman, and P. Sanderson, 2001.
- Optimizing cherry stem quality, J. L. Schick, and P. M. A. Toivonen, 2000.
- Reducing cherry damage in packinghouse operation-packinghouse evaluations, J. Thompson, et al., 1995.
- In-field hydrocooling cherry temperature management, C. Young and E. Kupferman, 1994.
WTFRC Research Reports
- Extending storage/shipping life and assuring good arrival of sweet cherry, Y. Wang, 2015.
- Coatings and other treatments to improve cherry quality, J. Bai, 2007.
- Improving Cherry Fruit Quality and Postharvest Shelf Life, L. Schrader, 2007.
- Postharvest quality of new commercially grown cherry varieties, E. Kupferman, 2005.
Other University References on Cherry Handling and Storage
- Improving shipping quality of sweet cherries, pdf presentation, Y. Wang, MCAREC, Oregon State University, 2014.
- Factors affecting sweet cherry fruit pitting resistance/susceptibility, pdf presentation, Y. Wang, MCAREC, Oregon State University, 2014.
- Shelf-life extension of sweet cherries by field management, postharvest treatments and Modified Atmosphere Packaging, O. I. Padilla-Zakour, et al., New York Fruit Quarterly, 15(2), 2007.
- Cherry: Recommendations for maintaining postharvest quality, E. Mitcham, et al., University of California at Davis postharvest webpage, 2013.
- Alternatives for disease control, G. Warner, Good Fruit Grower, January, 2014.
- Improving cherry quality, G. Warner, Good Fruit Grower, January, 2014.
- Reviewing cherry handling practices, E. J. Mitcham, Growing Produce, June, 2012.
- Cherries must be reliably firm, G. Warner, Good Fruit Grower, May, 2012.
- Optimizing cherry harvest timing, G. Warner, Good Fruit Grower, March, 2011.