Early forecasts point to solid national crop, with mainland growers sending directly to China via airfreight
As Australia’s early-season cherry harvest gets underway, hopes are high for a record crop.
Cherry Growers Australia president Tom Eastlake said all major production regions were cropping well, with growers on track to surpass the 16,000 tonne mark for the first time.
“The forecast at the moment depends on how bullish you want to be … we would have to be starting this year at a baseline of 20 per cent higher than 15,000 tonnes, so it will be about 18,000 tonnes,” Eastlake told ABC News.
“Assuming we don’t have any adverse weather events come through, I would be reasonably confident we hit that mark.”
Cherry growers in New South Wales are optimistic about crop forecasts, despite the state being in the grips of drought.
By Matthew Jones,