Lychee lovers will be able to enjoy fresh fruit longer this summer

Consumers can expect to see more lychees on supermarket shelves for longer this year as cooler and wetter conditions mean a later harvest than usual.
Key Points: There is a bumper harvest of lychees this year Cooler temperatures and wet weather have delayed the harvest The industry is also growing its US export market
And despite a harvest prices have held steady, meaning the delay is also good news for growers such as Lush Lychees in central Queensland.
Owners Krystal and Paul Caton have processed over 120 tons of fruit since December in their 5,000 tree orchard, 30 miles northwest of Rockhampton.
"This year we had the best season that we could have asked during the seven years of owning our orchard," Ms. Caton said.
"It really expands our market with a number of varieties which have all produced very well this year."
Krystalche Lychee Caton with her Lush husband in central Queensland Paul.(ABC Capricornia: Katrina Beavan)
About 280km south, near Bundaberg, the orchard of Australian Lychees Association President Derek Foley, produced a record harvest.
"[The harvest is] 40% up on what I've done before," he said.
Mr. Foley said fruit volume increased from last year across the industry but prices remained stable despite the increased supply.
"It's been solid," he said.
"I don't think there's been too many producers who complain about the price."
Late but excellent
Mr. Foley said the fruit developed later than normal due to cooler temperatures and wet weather that extended into spring.
" Flowering started quite early, but the gestation period to fruit set was incredibly long," he said.
"We have that a bit sometimes, but when you get a warm enough summer, things catch up.
"It's been a pretty mild summer, things just haven't caught up."
< figure class="HTQDr _8ohDw yvdCO IfoSG " role="group" data-print="inline-media" aria-labelledby="101891028" data-component="Figure" data-uri="corem edia://imageproxy/101891028 ">Central and southern lychee growing regions are enjoying a bumper harvest. (ABC Capricornia: Katrina Beavan ) still holds up and it's still awesome until the very end," she said.
She said the delay was beneficial because it spread out their picking more evenly.

Agrotech Jan 28, 2023 0 65 Add to Reading List

Lychee lovers will be able to enjoy fresh fruit longer this summer

Consumers can expect to see more lychees on supermarket shelves for longer this year as cooler and wetter conditions mean a later harvest than usual.

Key Points: There is a bumper harvest of lychees this year Cooler temperatures and wet weather have delayed the harvest The industry is also growing its US export market

And despite a harvest prices have held steady, meaning the delay is also good news for growers such as Lush Lychees in central Queensland.

Owners Krystal and Paul Caton have processed over 120 tons of fruit since December in their 5,000 tree orchard, 30 miles northwest of Rockhampton.

"This year we had the best season that we could have asked during the seven years of owning our orchard," Ms. Caton said.

"It really expands our market with a number of varieties which have all produced very well this year."

Krystalche Lychee Caton with her Lush husband in central Queensland Paul.(ABC Capricornia: Katrina Beavan)

About 280km south, near Bundaberg, the orchard of Australian Lychees Association President Derek Foley, produced a record harvest.

"[The harvest is] 40% up on what I've done before," he said.

Mr. Foley said fruit volume increased from last year across the industry but prices remained stable despite the increased supply.

"It's been solid," he said.

"I don't think there's been too many producers who complain about the price."

Late but excellent

Mr. Foley said the fruit developed later than normal due to cooler temperatures and wet weather that extended into spring.

" Flowering started quite early, but the gestation period to fruit set was incredibly long," he said.

"We have that a bit sometimes, but when you get a warm enough summer, things catch up.

"It's been a pretty mild summer, things just haven't caught up."

< figure class="HTQDr _8ohDw yvdCO IfoSG " role="group" data-print="inline-media" aria-labelledby="101891028" data-component="Figure" data-uri="corem edia://imageproxy/101891028 "> A group of workers standing around a table of brightly colored lychees. They pick the fruit from the remaining stalks

A group of workers standing around a table of brightly colored lychees. They pick the fruit from the remaining stalks

Central and southern lychee growing regions are enjoying a bumper harvest. (ABC Capricornia: Katrina Beavan ) still holds up and it's still awesome until the very end," she said.

She said the delay was beneficial because it spread out their picking more evenly.