Despite concerns about the drought affecting this year’s harvest, there is an abundance of cherries in Young and the Hilltops Region of south western NSW.
The cherry harvest is in full swing with pick-your-own orchards open for visitors and commercial orchards picking and packing fruit.“There is no shortage of cherries for anyone looking to visit Young to either pick or purchase cherries,” said President of Cherry Growers Australia Tom Eastlake.
Mr Eastlake said that there had been no discernible evidence of a drop in fruit availability that could be attributed to drought. “All the commercial orchards are irrigated now, which certainly shield fruit to a degree from drought.”
Mr Eastlake said there would be cherries in the district until early January.
The first case auction of Young cherries fetched $20,000 for charity at the Sydney Markets recently.
The harvest will be well underway during The Woolworths National Cherry Festival Young to be held on December 6,7 and 8 which this year celebrates its 70th anniversary.