Stone fruit production in Australia is forecast to increase in marketing year (MY) 2022/23, following a MY 2021/22 season that was impacted by a shortage of labor supply at harvest, export freight logistical challenges borne about by the COVID-19 pandemic, and wet weather at harvest.
Cherry production is forecast to increase by 19 percent, and peaches and nectarines by 13 percent. Increases in production, supported with an expectation of an improvement in labor availability for harvest, are anticipated to result in an increase in exports of cherries by 15 percent and 25 percent for peaches and nectarines.
Production
MY 2022/23 production for cherries in Australia is forecast to increase to 19,000 metric tons (MT) from the downward revised MY 2021/22 estimate of 16,000 MT. This forecast increase is in part due to the
gradual increase in cherry tree area coming into production along with improved varieties, as well as an expected rebound from the low harvest in MY 2021/22 due to unseasonal wet conditions around harvest.
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Source: fas.usda.gov