AU: Downpour devastates cherry growers

Up to 90 per cent of central western New South Wales' cherry crop has been wiped out by widespread heavy rain. Growers in the Orange and Young districts initially estimated almost half of their fruit had been damaged when about 300 millimetres of rain fell in some parts late last year. The New South Wales Cherrygrowers Association says some farmers have only been able to salvage between 10 and 30 per cent of their crops. Ken Perry, who grows cherries south west of Orange, says it has been a devastating season. "Probably 90 per cent of our crop," he said. "Mainly splitting and because of that the fruit became sort of waterlogged. "People don't want it. "I suppose you could sell it for processing but the prices aren't, it's not worth our while going to pick the crop for processing."

The affected growers are hoping to recoup millions of dollars worth of losses after the second consecutive devastating season. Some growers have abandoned picking their cherries and are leaving them on the trees to rot. Mr Perry says many people have lost millions of dollars. "It has created big losses and loss of money coming into Orange, over $1 million," he said. "All the growers in Orange have suffered some losses. "Some people didn't even start their packing sheds this year because they'd lost their whole crop." The Department of Primary Industries says growers are not eligible for natural disaster relief for rain events but growers hope Exceptional Circumstances help may be possible.

Source: abc.net.au