South Australian cherry growers suffered their worst harvest in 50 years due to pre-Christmas storms, losing up to 70 per cent of their crop. Fruit Producers SA managing director Grant Piggott explained that three storms have hit cherry producing areas, with the most recent one hitting when the cherries were ripe, causing significant losses.
The Adelaide Hills experienced double the average December rainfall in just five days, making it the worst situation in 50 years according to long-time industry insiders. Farm staff had to remove hundreds of tonnes of storm-damaged cherries, causing a major crisis in the industry.
In the days leading up to Christmas, cherry prices reached $50 per kilo due to the shortage caused by the storms. However, according to Piggott, the situation 'improved' after the storms thanks to new sorting methods. Fruit Producers SA has invested in grading equipment that uses a camera to select high quality cherries, increasing the quantity of fruit on the market and reducing waste.
Despite this, some growers, such as Fiona Hall of New South Wales, had to 'abandon' entire crops because of the damage they suffered. Rains at the wrong time filled the cherries with water, causing the skin to split and making the crop unfit for consumption.
However, there is one positive note: the cherry harvest in Tasmania went well, with abundant quantities of high quality fruit compared to the previous year. This is a relief for the industry, offering an alternative supply at a time when the rest of the country is facing serious problems due to storms and rains.
Read the full article: The Guardian
20 Mar 2025
Little Cherry Disease threatens cherry orchards, causing small, unsaleable fruit. Learn how to recognise it, remove diseased trees and control vectors to protect the crop and keep production healthy and profitable. Practical strategies and up-to-date advice.
10 Mar 2026
The LTER–Sweet Cherry model uses temperature and solar radiation data to estimate floral dormancy progression, relative water content and cold hardiness. The web tool helps evaluate seasonal frost risk in sweet cherry orchards in Yakima, Washington using predictive climate data.
04 May 2026
In France, the first Royal Tioga cherries reach the shelves as early as April thanks to protective systems against wind and rain. Early production reduces competition, improves growers’ margins and allows prices of up to €14 per kilo at the start of the season.
04 May 2026
In 2026, UK sweet cherries confirm growth, quality gains and steady retail demand. With production forecast at 8,000 tonnes, the key challenge will be diversifying across retail, wholesale and export to capture value during seasonal peaks while reducing waste and big discounting.
