This year's cherries among the biggest ever with 'best and sweetest' about to hit shelves

After a season "full of unknowns", growers in mid-west New South Wales say they have harvested some of the biggest cherries they have ever seen.

Key Points: Cold pre-Christmas conditions delayed cherry harvest for NSW growers Growers say delay in picking resulted in biggest cherries they've seen The cost of the fruit rose from $35 per kilogram over Christmas to around $25 per kg

Cherries are usually harvested before Christmas, but low spring and December temperatures have caused a delay.

Fiona Hall, a grower near Orange, said she's never seen cherries get this big before.

"The fruit hung longer because it took so long to ripen with all the cold nights, which means we have much bigger fruit," she said.

"Overall we have declining yields which isn't necessarily a bad thing as it means you get fit more size in your cherries."

Ms Hall said many growers missed Christmas sales.

"C It's the first time we've come close to a completion of Australia Day rather than a New Year's harvest - it's just crazy that it's so late," she said. p>

"Chinese New Year is very early this year - we'll be capturing instead, so it's an interesting year with a different market."

Cherry grower Guy Gaeta says he's never seen cherries this big. (ABC Rural: Hamish Cole)

Another Orange-based grower, Guy Gaeta, said the unusual season has created opportunities for growers to step away from focusing on the Christmas request.

"It was late, but a godsend, because it shows that people still eat cherries after Christmas and there is no reason for let them not," he said.

Consumers will benefit

At Christmas, a one-kilogram punnet of cherries costs about $35, but the price is now down to $25.

"They were quite expensive before Christmas due to supply and demand, but they are really good value right now and we're about to hit the best and sweetest varieties," Ms Hall said.

"I don't think not having tried better cherries than exist this year."