AUstonefruitharvest.jpg

WA's stonefruit harvest looks set to start early

Locally-grown stonefruit will be hitting shelves in WesternAustralia (WA) earlier this year because of a dry, mild winter, reports ABCRural.

Some producers in WA's southwest region have received onlyhalf their average rainfall, which has caused ‘bud burst’ to come early, thepublication revealed.

Plum and cherry grower Tony Guadagnino said fruit wouldripen some three weeks ahead of schedule this season.

'Some of the plums have already started flowering whichis not a good thing,' he told ABC Rural. The way things are looking,everything will be a couple of weeks early, he added.