New Zealand cherry crop yields are likely to be down slightly this year after a tough start to the picking season for Central Otago growers, the Southland Times reported.
Producers in the main growing regions of Cromwell and Alexandra are concerned after spring winds and rain ripped nets and threatened to bruise fruit and damage trees.
However Duncan Mathers, manager of Cromwell-based firm Sarita Orchards, said their early crop of Primavera cherries appeared healthy.
“The size is good, the colour is good and they’re nice and sweet,” he said.
Mr Mathers said this year’s yield was likely to be a moderate one, and that Sarita expected to produce between 120 and 150 tonnes of cherries from its 14ha of plantings.
Summerfruit Orchards production manager Ian Nicholls also said he was happy with the first fruit, but added that it would be difficult to estimate a final yield or price until the fruit had been sorted.
H & J Roberts orchard manager Harry Roberts said the crop, although a little light, appeared healthy.
Picking began on Sunday at the company’s 15-hectare Earnscleugh orchard but was almost derailed by a hailstorm on Monday, Mr Roberts said.
The stonefruit season in Central Otago runs from December to March and apricots will be picked next, followed by nectarines and peaches.
Most of New Zealand's export cherries are sent to the Asian market.
Cherries fetched about NZ$12 per kilogram on the export market in 2007 and 2008, while domestic retailers often charge NZ$20 or more per kg.
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