Western Australian stone fruit growers are expecting to pick some of the best quality crop on record.

The WA Fruit Growers’ Association said the state’s unusually cold and wet spring weather has brought about smaller crop volumes.

The latest estimates for the 2005/06 season suggest yields will be down across the board.

Plums will be about 45 per cent of normal levels, apricots 75 per cent, peaches 80-90 per cent and nectarines 90-100 per cent.

But the upside of the prolonged wintry weather will be larger, juicier and tastier fruit, said chairman of Perth market authority, David Taylor.

Last season saw an oversupply of small-sized fruit on the domestic market due to a shortage of export markets.

However, Summer Fruit Council chairman, Peter Gubler, said he was hopeful returns would be better this year.

“Consumers can anticipate top-quality eating at reasonable prices, especially by around Christmas when peaches and apricots peak in terms of quantity and quality and by the end of January when plums do the same,” he added.

Earlier this year the SFC addressed growers on domestic markets and consumer preferences.

“As a result, many WA growers consolidated their varietal mix, removing unwanted or less fashionable varieties and thinning hard to reduce crop volumes, ultimately resulting in what should be a better eating product for consumers,” Gubler said.

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