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
27 May 2024
The Rainier price remained above $5 per pound. ‘It was the only cherry we made a profit on last year. That's what we count on every year,' said John Griggs Jr. who grows about 200 acres of cherries, half of which are Rainier.
03 Jul 2024
'Thanks to the early blossoming this year, the harvest is particularly early,' explains Claus Schliecker, president of Landvolk Niedersachsen. He and his colleagues invest around EUR 120,000 per hectare to cover the cherry trees with rain covers and insect nets.
13 Feb 2026
A joint study by Turkish institutes and the Islamia University of Bahawalpur (Pakistan) compares three sweet cherry drying technologies: MWD, MWHAD and Solar Tunnel Drying. Drying time, color, sugars, organic acids and phenolic compounds were evaluated for quality.
13 Feb 2026
In modern cherry orchards, economic sustainability is now essential. From varietal selection to season management, including yield, storage and packhouse efficiency, genetics and operational performance drive profitability across the global cherry supply chain.
