WA growers have just started picking cherries, but say there will be plenty for Christmas
Cooler weather has created a challenge for WA cherry growers and delayed the harvest, but that won't stop people from having the fruit on Christmas Day.< /p>Key points: Cold weather has meant a late start to the cherry season in Western AustraliaGrowers have just started picking, days before the annual Manjimup Cherry FestivalThere will be no shortage of cherries for Christmas, according to growers
Cherry growers say cold weather means it takes longer for cherries to ripen, meaning many farmers have only just started picking the fruit of their trees.
Manjimup producer Louis Vellios is eagerly waiting for the weather to warm up.
"It's a very slow start The varieties we are picking now should have been finished three weeks ago es," he said.
"They're at the stage of turning pink and they're just sitting there. With the heat, they will all turn after a week and a half."
Donnybrook fruit grower Sam Licciardello said his harvest was about a week and a half late.
"It's probably the last for a while" , he said
"If it's hot, they stay have sleep. If it is too cold, they will remain inactive."
He said there would likely be a last minute cherry picking rush in the weeks before Christmas.
< p class="_39n3n">"We are harvesting today and as Christmas approaches, we will be harvesting every day."This Christmas week we may discover that we are going to harvest a few different varieties in a week, which is a challenge.
"There will be no shortage of quality fruit, it's just that they come in small portions."< /p>
Mr. Licciardello asked consumers to be patient as growers were doing their best to ensure all fruit was harvested for Christmas.
He said as he expected there to be plenty of cherries for the local market, there was unlikely to be enough fruit to be sent east, where relentless rain killed cherry trees, damaged fruit and left Christmas favorite in no time.
Cooler weather has created a challenge for WA cherry growers and delayed the harvest, but that won't stop people from having the fruit on Christmas Day.< /p>Key points: Cold weather has meant a late start to the cherry season in Western AustraliaGrowers have just started picking, days before the annual Manjimup Cherry FestivalThere will be no shortage of cherries for Christmas, according to growers
Cherry growers say cold weather means it takes longer for cherries to ripen, meaning many farmers have only just started picking the fruit of their trees.
Manjimup producer Louis Vellios is eagerly waiting for the weather to warm up.
"It's a very slow start The varieties we are picking now should have been finished three weeks ago es," he said.
"They're at the stage of turning pink and they're just sitting there. With the heat, they will all turn after a week and a half."
Donnybrook fruit grower Sam Licciardello said his harvest was about a week and a half late.
"It's probably the last for a while" , he said
"If it's hot, they stay have sleep. If it is too cold, they will remain inactive."
He said there would likely be a last minute cherry picking rush in the weeks before Christmas.
< p class="_39n3n">"We are harvesting today and as Christmas approaches, we will be harvesting every day."This Christmas week we may discover that we are going to harvest a few different varieties in a week, which is a challenge.
"There will be no shortage of quality fruit, it's just that they come in small portions."< /p>
Mr. Licciardello asked consumers to be patient as growers were doing their best to ensure all fruit was harvested for Christmas.
He said as he expected there to be plenty of cherries for the local market, there was unlikely to be enough fruit to be sent east, where relentless rain killed cherry trees, damaged fruit and left Christmas favorite in no time.
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