The cherry processing industry now has two new varieties to work with, thanks to recent releases by Cornell's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES) and International Plant Management Inc.

"These two brining cherry [cherries used for canning or processing] releases provide growers with new well-adapted varieties for the eastern United States," said Susan Brown, professor of horticultural sciences, who leads Cornell's cherry breeding program.

"Andersen" is a large, stem-on cocktail cherry with long, thick, green stems that tends to bear in singles. The cherry has a bright pink blush while the flesh is white. The fruit is very acid and not suited for retail sales.

Andersen was developed at the NYSAES and was named for Robert Andersen, professor emeritus at Cornell, who was the cherry breeder at NYSAES until his retirement last year.

The second variety, "Nugent," is a yellow cherry that was selected from seedlings from Michigan State University. It was named for Jim Nugent, coordinator of the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station, Traverse City, Mich.

For more information, contact International Plant Management at (800) 424-2765.