There are actually over 40 varieties of cherries grown in the valley, but only 4 varieties are branded as Picota: Ambrunés, Pico Colorado, Pico Limón, and Pico Negro.
All four of these varieties are small, juicy but firm cherries. They are stalkless because when they are picked (by hand) from the trees, the stalk remains behind.
Picota Cherries are available fresh from mid-July until the end of August.
The production and marketing of Picota Cherries is protected by a Spanish Denominación de Origen (DO), regulated by a council. Each shipment of cherries is quality controlled. The council’s policy is that once the cherries are picked, they should reach stores within 1 day.
Sources
“La picota del Valle del Jerte recibe el primer premio a la mejor campaña de promoción en Reino Unido.” In “Revista Mercados. Laméyer S.L., Seville. Issue 53, June 2004.