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
30 Aug 2024
ANA Chile® provides you with valuable videos with pruning guidelines by consultant Walter Masman. The videos present pruning guidelines for the production of Sweet Aryana® PA1UNIBO and Nimba both grafted on the Colt rootstock.
28 May 2025
In British Columbia, the 2025 cherry season is shaping up to be exceptional: harvest from mid-June to August, Canadian Cherry Month, and “I Farm For” stories showcasing growers. A vibrant year of flavour, community, identity, and proud Canadian agricultural tradition.
28 Nov 2025
A recent study from central Chile reveals that the combined activity of honey bees and wild insects significantly improves sweet cherry fruit set, highlighting the value of biodiversity and ecologically oriented farming practices for more resilient orchards in the region.
28 Nov 2025
In-depth report on the real production costs, profitability thresholds and export dynamics of cherry orchards in Chile, with case data from Ñuble, Biobío, Araucanía, Maule and Los Lagos. Strategic insights to reduce costs, boost yield and ensure long-term farm viability.
