Central Otago's cherry production is maintaining strong volume projections for the 2025 season, despite the challenges posed by weather conditions, including heavy rainfall over the Christmas period. A Cromwell grower highlighted the resilience of cherries to mid-November weather conditions, traditionally beyond the risk of frosts, yet acknowledged the season's unpredictable weather patterns. The persistence of frost fans into mid-December and subsequent rain spells has kept orchardists vigilant.
Michael Jones, of Suncrest Orchard, noted that while some cherry varieties were impacted by the rain, the season commenced positively. The rain, predominantly nocturnal and followed by wind, aided in mitigating potential damage by drying the fruit efficiently. In contrast, Pete Bennie from Leaning Rock Cherries in Alexandra reported a slower harvest with smaller fruit sizes, attributing a silver lining to the timing with the Chinese New Year occurring earlier on January 29.
Source: The Central App