Victorian strawberry season has started a couple of weeks early in some parts, but may be later than last year in others.
The news follows reports from grower Spirli Strawberries in Wandin North, that it started harvesting its 200,000 strawberry plants on October 10, following a few warm spring days of 30 degrees. Humidity was also said to have boosted the sugar content of the fruit coming out of the ground the last few weeks.
Supply is ‘plentiful’ and the fruit is large and good quality, according to Rees Attwood of Red Rich Fruits, who buys in strawberries from the Yarra Valley, Wandin and Silvan areas for customers of the Red Rich Apple Orchard. “At this stage we’re selling everything we’re getting in. Prices have dropped off a bit to $7-$8 per kilo, but that’s not unreasonable for our customers,” he said.
The Victorian season has not begun in all regions, with Shepparton and areas further away not due to begin harvesting until December time. “We’ll probably start later than normal this year, we normally don’t get going until December anyway,” said Bill Sali, a grower based in Shepparton. “It’s so far so good for us at the moment, except for the few grower who got hit by the hail storm that came through the Goulburn Valley a few weeks ago.”
Weather has been ‘up and down’ for growers in the later stating regions, according to Mr Sali, but it’s ‘nothing they can’t handle’ unless there is more significant hail between now and the end of the summer time. “We have had wind and rain come through here, with more expected on Wednesday, but it’s typical spring weather I think,” he said. “We’re expecting similar volumes to last year, every year one crop will be up while another will be down a little though.”
For more information
Rees Attwood, Operations Manager
Red Rich Fruits
Phone: +61359644596
E-mail: red_rich_orchards@bigpond.com
Website: www.redrichfruits.com.au