CHERRIES sit high on the list when it comes to the biggest Christmas table staples in Australian celebrations but as festivities kick off, many consumers are finding it hard to secure them.
Create a free account to read this article
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ceravolo Orchards owner Tony Ceravolo said the cherry season was shaping up well on his 40-hectare cherry orchard.
"We are running a little bit late this year because it's been such a cold year," he said.
"But the cherries will be really nice, even though there won't be as many cherries for Christmas like there normally is.
"But after Christmas, there will definitely be plenty of cherries for everybody and the prices will be good so hopefully people will be happy to eat him."
He said they pick about 300 tonnes and also pack for other growers in the Adelaide Hills.
"We have a state of the art machine, which automatically defects for softness, splits and lack of sugar in the cherries," he said.
Mr Ceravolo said the season had impacted on yields.
RELATED READING
"It has just rained so much since the middle of October for six weeks and we lost so many cherries," he said.
"But we have around 40 varieties for this reason so the next variety isn't far off when we lose some.
"The cherries are also late but having the season declared open indicates the festive time is upon us."
Horticultural Coalition of SA chair and SA Produce Markets chief executive officer Angelo Demasi said it had been a tough year for producers.
"But their resilience over the past four years has endured storms, bushfires, and the life of COVID, like everyone else, but have been defined in resilience in producing quality fruit onto our tables.
"The cool weather has delayed the Adelaide Hills cherries.
"But there will be plenty of cherries here for Christmas and obviously plenty more to hit tables in the new year."
Mr Demasi said there might also be delays from Riverland producers, given the extended flooding in that region.
"In 2021 to 2022 the gross revenue for cherries was $60 million, down $18m from 2020 to 2021," he said.
"But despite the downturn due to weather conditions - (with) recent investment in protective cropping and future establishment of our biosecurity precinct right here in the market - we are estimating cherries will grow to $100m by 2030.
Primary industries minister Clare Scriven said cherry production was a significant horticultural production activity in SA.
"Over $26m in cherry production was the states contribution in the 2020-21 year - where over 3m kilograms of cherries were sold in that year," she said.
"SA growers contributed 16 per cent of the country's fresh cherry production.
"The Adelaide Hills is our major cherry production region and continues to provide 90-95pc of the states cherries together with those grown in the Riverland as well as in the South East and Fleurieu.
"There is a strong demand for the delicious harvest and I do hope that growers have a bumper crop, not withstanding the lateness of the season."
She said cherries marked the beginning of the festive season with this year no exception, despite a late season or cold snaps.
"We can all be assured of a beautiful centrepiece of glorious glossy cherries for Christmas," she said.
Sign up here to Good Fruit and Vegetables weekly newsletter for all the latest horticulture news each Thursday...