Fresh cherry is picked from contracted farms during the October to January season, peaking in November and December.
The ripe-cherry ratio at picking is the decisive parameter for this item. A high proportion of unripe cherry pulls down the quality of the whole lot after processing, and nothing downstream can recover it. The cooperative therefore agrees picking criteria with member households at the start of the season and verifies them on intake.
Cherry must enter processing shortly after harvest to avoid unintended fermentation. We schedule handover with the customer by picking day rather than consolidating several days into one delivery.