The cherry harvest in Central Otago is coming to an end, but a publicly funded experiment could revolutionise the shelf life of the summer fruit. Eden Orchards in Alexandra, famous for its cherry juices, has initiated an innovative project to individually freeze cherries, with the aim of developing a sustainable commercial process. This technique, already used elsewhere for surplus fruit, is new in the Central region.
Funding of $40,000 from the Ministry of Primary Industries Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures enabled Eden Orchards to conduct the trial ahead of schedule. The removal of stalks and kernels precedes freezing, a method that has proven successful in other regions but had not previously been implemented in Central Otago.
The project builds on previous initiatives of the Central Otago District Council, which aims to reduce local fruit waste through innovative strategies. Eden Orchards General Manager Cameron Bignell said that the funding had greatly accelerated the testing of the new processing technique.
The council pointed out that about 2,207 tonnes of local cherries are discarded or not harvested each year due to imperfections, a figure that will grow as production increases. Frozen cherries retain their health benefits and are increasingly in demand for use in smoothies and desserts, but most of those available in New Zealand are imported.
Food distributor FSL Foods, represented by managing director Eliana Glover, will closely monitor the outcome of the trial. Glover highlighted the potential market for frozen cherries in Central Otago. The municipality, through its economic development team, worked with local growers and producers to identify opportunities and quantities of available fruit. The last phase involved working with business partners interested in new processing options in the area.
Nick Lanham, CODC Economic Development Officer, expressed enthusiasm for the first pilot project and emphasised the benefits of sustainability and local income generation. Alex Huffadine, local farmer and member of the Council's project team, praised the Eden Orchards initiative for reducing waste, adding value and creating job opportunities in the community.
Read the full article: Crux
Image: Farmers Weekly
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