KEY POINTS:
Christmas tables will be laden with cherries this season, as the first picking of bumper Central Otago crops started this week.
Jackson Orchards workers in Cromwell were starting to pick the Earlise variety.
Packhouse manager Sarah Hobbs said the past few days of warm sunny weather had helped the crop ripen. A few more warm days and nights would see the fruit ready for Christmas.
"The past two seasons have been unusually early, but this year we are back to normal in the time we are picking."
Last year, the orchard received Christmas mail orders for about 3600kg of cherries, as well as the demand from local markets.
A heavy crop is expected. Previous estimates were down because of a long, cold winter, and changeable spring weather, but "things are looking really good now", Miss Hobbs said.
- Otago Daily Times
