With the cherry harvest season in Tasmania just around the corner, the Somercotes team is highly enthusiastic about the prospects for this year.
David Allanson, a long-time cherry grower in Tasmania, has taken on the role of Farm Director at Somercotes Cherries in Ross, Tasmania. He reports that Somercotes will start harvesting in December and that early signs of fruit formation look promising, thanks to favorable weather during spring and winter.
Somercotes now cultivates around 20 varieties across 50 hectares, and recent infrastructure improvements, including bird nets and frost fans, have positively impacted production by protecting the crops. The farm, founded in 1823 and still owned by the Riggall family, benefits from ideal conditions in central Tasmania, with cool winters and mild summers that allow cherries to develop natural sweetness.
Allanson notes that the cherries are harvested by hand to meet demand locally, interstate, and internationally, and he eagerly anticipates sharing their premium product with cherry lovers worldwide.
Read the full article: Freshplaza
04 Jun 2026
Chile’s cherry sector must reduce its dependence on China and shift 30% of exports toward new markets. Agronomy, varieties, quality, packaging and commercial strategy are becoming decisive to protect value, competitiveness and the long-term future of the industry.
10 Apr 2025
NZ Cherry Corp increased cherry export yield by 10% through advanced soil moisture monitoring and precision irrigation strategies. A success story that sets the benchmark for smart farming practices across New Zealand and internationally.
25 Sep 2026
Sweet cherry nutrition and fruit quality: studies from Chile, USA, Spain and other countries show how nitrogen, potassium, calcium, boron, phosphorus and magnesium affect fruit size, firmness, soluble solids, color, cracking and postharvest storage performance.
25 Sep 2026
The velvet longhorned beetle, Trichoferus campestris, is an invasive wood-boring beetle detected in Utah, Illinois, Minnesota and other US states. It can infest dry wood and many tree hosts, including apple, cherry and peach, while its long-term impact remains uncertain.
