Bitter Cherry Jam – Hortivoltaic Product

Description

A jar of jam that also tells the story of an orchard in transformation.

The bitter cherries used for this product come from the area of our hortivoltaic project – an experimental space where fruit growing is combined with solar energy production.

Installed above the cherry trees are semi-transparent solar panels, so that the same piece of land can be used both for growing fruit and for producing renewable energy. This is the basic principle of HortiVoltaics technology.

A protected and monitored orchard

For us, the project grew out of one of the biggest challenges in fruit growing: increasingly unpredictable weather.

At the Bitter Cherry Orchard we are testing the effect of the hortivoltaic system on the trees, with a focus on late spring frosts, thermal shocks and the orchard’s microclimate.

The system uses Brite Solar panels, and the project includes sensors and monitoring instruments to compare how the cherry trees in the protected area develop compared with those in the uncovered area.

Research published as part of the project has already shown measurable differences between the two areas. Under the semi-transparent panels, a reduction of about 40–50% in irrigation water needswas observed, linked to lower evapotranspiration, as well as a different soil temperature and moisture profile. Larger fruit and sturdier stems were also reported in the protected area compared with the control area.

From the experimental area, into the jar

From the bitter cherries grown in this space, we chose to make a distinct product: Bitter Cherry Jam – Hortivoltaic Product.

The recipe puts the fruit first: for every 100 g of product, 72 g of black bitter cherries are used.

For sweetening we use concentrated apple juice, and the recipe is completed with fresh lemon juice and agar-agar.

The result is a jam with an intense bitter cherry taste, bittersweet and with the distinctive character of the fruit from our orchard.

Ingredients

Black bitter cherries, concentrated apple juice, fresh lemon juice, agar-agar.

Made with 72 g of bitter cherries per 100 g of product.

Contains no colourings or preservatives.
Pasteurized product.

Caution: may contain pits!

Average nutritional values per 100 g

Net weight

200 g

How to enjoy it

Bitter cherry jam can be enjoyed on its own, on toast, croissants or pancakes, or with yogurt or granola.

The intense taste of bitter cherries also makes it a great choice for cheesecake, panna cotta, ice cream or other desserts. It can also create an interesting contrast with aged cheeses.

Storage conditions

Store in a cool place, protected from frost and direct sunlight.

After opening, keep refrigerated and consume within 3 days.

Best before the date printed on the packaging.