Supermarkets have been getting bad press lately in relation to their fruit and vegetables.
It is interesting that the negative comments have not been questioning fruit quality.
Under attack have been the lack of flavour and taste, the rock-like firmness (immaturity), and age (apple, pears and bananas).
It is fortunate that cherries have not been subject to similar vitriolic comment. It would seem that this may be in part due to cherries still having a ‘season’ (be it northern or southern hemisphere). Also, sweet cherries have a natural limited shelf life.
Very often these days cherries are displayed in a refrigerated area, taking special care of the product. Large displays have been a factor in moving more fruit more quickly at times when cherries are plentiful—hopefully at a price return to the grower or packer that is profitable.
No profit, no future
With the huge cost and commitment to automated cherry grading and sorting, and meeting market specifications and expectations, there is no future in just being a player without profit.
While bank interest rates for lending money are presently as low as few can remember, in the long term there needs to be an economic return to cherry producers that can sustain them into the future.
Recent studies into the quality of Australian cherries across a range of supermarket chains have been well received and important to the cherry industry.
With rising production volumes of sweet cherries in this country, there is an increasing need to market cherries more widely in Australia. Innovative ideas around packaging, placement and vending at transport stations will keep evolving.
US cherries
In the meantime, check out and buy some cherries from the USA. Cherries from California this season seem to be better quality than the previous couple of years.
News from the North-West district in the US is that it will be a big crop of cherries. The other factor is that our dollar is close to par with the US dollar, this is likely to remain the case for the next season of Australian cherries, which will be an improved scenario over last year.
Food for thought
I can only hope that this article gives you something to think about while out in the cold weather pruning, or while in the packing shed pulling down the old cherry grader and preparing to piece together the new cherry grader jigsaw puzzle, to be finished in time for next season’s cherry crop.
For information and contact details, see the July 2012 Tree Fruit.
