CHERRY TREES ARE IN BLOOM IN THE LUBERON
When the cherry trees have small white flowers in the Lubéron especially around Saint Saturnin les Apt ; it means that Spring has arrived ! The inhabitants of the region have always watched for the blooming of the cherry trees, sign that the weather is becoming milder, that days are longer and that it is time for gardeners, beginners or confirmed to prepare their garden for the summer.
THE CHERRY IN PROVENCE
The Provencal weather is ideal for cultivating many fruit trees, especially cherry trees; one must say the sunshine is optimal, indispensable to obtaining fruits full of sugar and sun.
If nature is nice, cultivating cherry trees is still long haul work for the farmers.
In fact, a cherry tree will not start producing fruits before 8 years after being planted and it is only 4 years later that it will have an optimal production.
To obtain the best fruits, one has to be patient.
VAUCLUSE, THE FIRST PRODUCER OF CHERRIES IN FRANCE
50,000 tons of cherries are produced each year in France, with 35% of the national production Provence and especially the Département of Vaucluse is today one of the biggest producers of cherries in France, the groves go from the valleys of the Lubéron to those of the Durance. In total, almost 3000 producers share a territory of several thousand hectares.
There are many varieties of cherries but the most produced are the Burlat with flavorful and very sweet flesh and the Summit, which come later, in the shape of a heart.
Today still, the harvest, the sorting and the packaging of the cherries are done by hand to avoid damaging this very delicate fruit.
FOR GOURMETS
It is a well-known fact; Provence is a land for gourmets. And the cherry is prepared to suits all tastes. This fruit has been part of the Provencal terroir for many years; in particular it is in the Lubéron that most candied cherries are made in France. Here, the fruit even has its own festival.
This year it will take place on June 5, 2016 in the little Provencal village of Venasque in Vaucluse where since 1978 the first trademarked cherries are produced: the “Monts de Venasque”
On the program of the Cherry and Terroir Festival: Culinary events, hikes to discover the Venasque groves and, of course, sampling of cherries.
