Early cherries are close to finishing, with this week expected to be the last for the smaller varieties, and the last of any crops affected by weather, according to distributor Sam Antico, of Sinclair and Antico. “This week we’ve got a lot of early fruit, varieties such as Eagle, Empress, Vista, Elise. Yes there were some issues with hail or storms, but only with those varieties which are soft anyway,” he says.
NSW was hit by severe storms in many areas during the last week, but horticulture production remains largely unaffected, according to reports, with only isolated hail events and severe winds.
Larger, sweeter and firmer cherry varieties such as Rons, Lapins, Stellas, Reginas and Claudias are still to look forward to for consumers. “Those early varieties will be cleared out of the system and make way for the best, which is yet to come, by next week,” says Mr Antico. Rain has definitely not affected any of the better varieties yet to be picked, according to him. “We’ve got good weather forecasts now, and good firm fruit at the moment is worth $8-$12 per kilo, at similar volumes to this time last year.”
Early varieties are being ‘married up’ with other products and sold on, to make way for the rest of the harvest, according to Mr Antico.
At the moment Mr Antico is sourcing fruit from NSW, including Hillston and the area surrounding Young, as well as Victoria, for the Sydney wholesale markets. South Australia and Adelaids Hills will be producing next, before Tasmania begins its harvest later in December.