Chilly weather down Otago way delays cherry crop

Chilly weather is slowing the ripening of fruit in Central Otago, but the traditional cherry crop should still be picked in time for Christmas, orchardists say.

Last year Central Otago's fruit-growing area had endless days of sunshine and drought, but this year has seen cloudy days, showers and chilly temperatures.

Wind has also played its part, with nets to protect crops from birds becoming tangled and falling down.

Earnscleugh grower Harry Roberts said some cherries which would normally be picked soon might not now get picked before Christmas.

Night-time temperatures had been as low as 3C.

He said the trees were quite sensitive to the weather and there was also the threat of hail.

He usually started picking cherries on December 18 but this might be delayed if the weather did not improve.

Apricots and other stone fruit were set for harvest in mid-January.

Alexandra grower Peter Bennie said the cherries were slowing down but he had started picking early varieties.

The later varieties, such as lapin, were not ripening as quickly but it was "a guessing game at this stage" when the fruit would be ready.

Roxburgh grower Syd Birtles said everything had slowed up and schedules were being moved back.

The fruit was still good and the crop was looking excellent but nothing was growing at the moment.

Growers needed some hot, sunny days.

At Ashburton, berry growers said a slow start to their season meant berryfruit would be a scarce commodity on Christmas dinner tables in some regions.

An unseasonably cooler December and wet and cooler weather last month stopped berry crops from ripening in time for the festive season.

Southberry owner Vicki Dobson said that berries were ripeningmuch later than usual.

Mrs Dobson said the late harvest was a "bit of a worry" with Christmas looming. Raspberry picking was also running late compared with last year and she hoped for some warmer conditions to ripen boysenberries, tayberries, ranui berries and black and red currants.

Smithfield Berries owner Grant Smith said berries were going to be in very short supply for Christmas: "We'll struggle to have much around before January."

- NZPA