from Castanet: by Chelsea Powrie - Sep 14, 2026 / 3:00 pm 

Summerland Varieties Corp. and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada have reached a settlement with Monson Fruit Company, bringing an end to a more than six-year legal battle over Staccato cherry trees and cherries marketed as “Glory” or “Omega.”

The settlement came shortly before a September trial in Washington State was set to begin.

Under the agreement, Monson will pay substantial past and future royalties on Staccato trees, with proceeds reinvested in AAFC’s tree fruit development program.

Monson also agreed not to export the fruit outside the United States through 2032 and will be prohibited from propagating new Staccato trees through 2029.

The dispute has already produced several key victories for AAFC and SVC. A 2024 bench trial established that “Glory” is Staccato, while the Staccato patent was reinstated and Monson stipulated that “Glory” infringes the patent.

The settlement follows agreements reached last year with other defendants that included the destruction of unauthorized Staccato trees and assignment of the “Glory” patent to AAFC.

In a press release issued Monday, SVC general manager Sean Beirnes said the outcome "reinforces the importance of protecting intellectual property rights and obtaining proprietary plant varieties through authorized channels."

The royalty proceeds will support research and development, including the breeding program behind Staccato and other tree fruit varieties.

AAFC and SVC say the investment will help sustain the long-term development of new varieties while protecting the interests of authorized growers.